Last upload for Isabella's challenges

Due to some family health issues, I am sorry to say that the challenge site at Isabella's Sketchbook will be disbanding the design team and stopping the challenges. I am so sorry to see this as this has been one of my very favorite sites to play at and I absolutely love Isabella's images. I wish them only the best and hope that in the future we will see more of this talented lady.
I am posting two projects, one I did a good while back and never posted...
It is a 3-d creation using an acrylic frame. I used the image "Notecard" and My Mind's Eye dp. My sentiment is from Stampin' Up and I created the flower by punching several times out of the dp and crumpling and layering...attached with an antique brad, also by SU. I gave this to my DH to put on his desk.
The card that I created today uses Isabella's "Basket of Twigs. I used SU card stock and dp from Provo Craft -- Soft Serenity. I created another flower the same way using some of my scraps of this dp. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. I love the lavender satin ribbon attached to the basket.
I hope you enjoy looking at these and I will miss you Isabella!!

Altered Art for StampTV

I wanted to share this project with you today....I am loving it even if I did create it. My spur to make it was a 3-D challenge this week-end at StampTV . I had bought this book by Martha Stewart which is an accordion book and at the time is spoke to me of Fall, so I decided to make a book to hold Thanksgiving pictures. I think it would be wonderful to list the menu, guests and pictures of friends and family. I used my two sets by Gina K designs--Autumn Beauty illustrated by Theresa Momber and A Year of Leaves illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger, which are two of my all time favorites. I started out by using Memento inks in cantaloupe, tangelo, rhubarb stalk and bamboo leaves and sponging randomly over a piece of GKD ivory card stock. I then used Versafine vintage sepia to stamp some of the leaves which I then cut out. I layered a piece of tan leather over chocolate and stamped a few of the images from Autumn Beauty, then using pop dots I layered the leaves over and around some raffia. I also stamped some of these same images including one of corn shucks throughout the pages of the book.

There is also a coordinating bag that I made to go with the book.
I am going to be on the outlook for more of these in other colors, as I can see all kinds of other ideas with this theme....birthday, showers, and even just an everyday theme. Hope that you enjoyed seeing this and if you missed my TMITA card for today...please just scroll down.
Have a great one and I'll see ya soon.

No Pattern Paper for TMITA

I want to apologize to everyone for posting my card late today....I have been having a bad case of vertigo this week-end and it must have stopped my brain. I meant to have this scheduled and it just plain slipped my mind.
On to my card....I used Nina's image "Friends in all Sizes". This week at TMITA Marie asked us to create without using any patterned paper. I embossed my card base with a Sizzix texture plate and very simply cut out my image using a circle nestie from Spellbinders. The Friends sticker and embellishment are from Heidi Grace and Fiskers. I highlighted the bow on her tail with gold stickles.
Again, I apologize and hope you enjoy the things our design team has created for this week and we hope that you will play along.
Thanks for stopping by!

I am Blessed!

This hobby of ours has always been an enjoyment for me, but the best part of this year has been the great friends and new experiences that I have been blessed with. Since I started blogging in the spring I have met so many new friends from all around the world and have been given so many fun opportunities to grow. My latest treat is from my friend Marie aka cardmaking bird who is on the design team with me at There's Magic in the Air. She hails from England and yesterday presented me with this award.



Isn't that the most beautiful vintage blinkie....thanks so much Marie. I appreciate you always checking out my posts and the lovely things that you say.
Now to the specifics of this award.
1. Thank the person presenting
2. Tell 3 things about yourself that you like
3. Pass it on to 7 deserving people

As to the things that I like about myself....
That I seem to attract the best and most loyal of friends around me...don't ask me how but I appreciate each and every one. Second, that my husband is one of those and loves me in spite of myself, and third that I am trying very hard to see the good and wonderful things in my life and let things that I cannot change, go!
I am choosing the following people for this award, as they have been an important part of my journey so far....
Olga
Colleen
Theresa
Betty
Linda
Jennie
Annika

There are others out there that I am not mentioning, but not because I don't appreciate your help and caring...

Fall Colors

This is a last minute upload to make the deadline for the color challenge at Just For Fun . I don't usually like to post this late but this is one of my favorite challenge sites and I just made my card this evening. I have had a busy week without much posting or stamping. Sorry to be so quiet. I used some of the olive card stock that I bought at the stamp show I went to in July for the card base and my dp is some that I bought years ago by Imagine That. I rounded the corners on one side with my Stampin' Up corner punch and threaded ribbon by Gina K designs and knotted it. The floral is from the Floral Cube by JFF. I did a score line and placed the sentiment sticker below it. I hope that all of you are doing well and looking forward to a great week-end. I have been making some cards for the next month for the design team that I am on for Paper Cupcakes. I know you will want to keep and eye out for those. Take care and be sure and check back as I will have some more things to post tomorrow.

This card won Challenge #25. Yeah.

Punch it at TMITA!!

It's Magical Monday and this week let's punch it. This is Jesse's challenge: Let's get out those punches and punch! Use any type of punch on your project: border, flower, leaves, hearts, etc.
At TMITA Nina is showcasing a new image "Joyful Ride" and I know that you will all want to check out this super cute image. I had lots of fun coming up with something special for him. I colored with my Stampin' Up markers and glitter pen. My papers are Bazzill purple textured and dp by Sasha paper collectioin. I punched some of the dp and used pop dots to elevate a couple of the flowers. My sentiment is from SU's Small Sayings. Nina is giving away a punch this week to one lucky participant. Please come on over and get all the details and play along with us this week and be sure and stop by the other members of the design team and see their take.


cs- Bazzill, dp Sasha paper collection
ink- Stampin' Up
Stamps- SU small sayings, digi image "Joyful Ride" Paper Cupcakes
Punches- SU large flower, small flower unknown
pop dots and Spellbinders die

Flourishes 80

Hey there my friends,
Back with another card to share, this time I created one for the color challenge at Flourishes Timeless Tuesday . The colors are hot pink, soft yellow , kraft and black. I used Flourishes set Peony and then cut out the image that I stamped with Tim Holtz distress ink in mustard seed with my Spellbinder peony die. I also used a border cuttlebug embossing folder to accent the black card stock. Am not really happy with this but I am going to post it anyway. Hope that you can find something to enjoy in it and if not please enjoy this beautiful day that God has blessed us with.
Later....

It's a Play Date at my blog

Loving the colors this week at The Play Date Cafe and their color challenge 43. I am in love with this paper that I recently got from My Mind's Eye but I have struggled with getting a good picture...didn't work well inside or outside, so I am posting and hope that you will be forgiving. I used an older, retired set for this by Stampin' Up--All I Have Seen. Thanks for taking a look see and hope that you all are having a fabulous week-end. The heat and humidity are a little better and we have opened all the windows--letting the breeze in and airing out the house. Yeah for me! I hate being cooped up with closed windows but with the 90's we've been having, no other choice. Welcoming Fall here in Virginia.
Take care my friends and see ya soon!

cs- SU wild wasabi, dp My Mind's Eye
ink- SU wild wasabi
stamps- SU All I Have Seen
Ribbon- Dollar Tree, Bracket Making Memories

Playing at CPS

Love that this card is so CAS...great sketch design this week at Card Positioning Systems . I used some of the retired textured card stock from Stampin' Up and an older set that I haven't played with for awhile by SU called Just Like You. I also used SU's ink Baja Breeze. I love how this turned out and it was super fast to make. Hope that you like it, too! Hope that everyone has a wonderful week-end coming up...off to see my friend Olga tomorrow and check out her big yard sale, already heard though that I won't find anything stamping related.

It's a Sketch!

At least it's a sketch challenge at The Paper Players this week. This was a fun challenge and I hope you can stop by and play. I used card stock from my scrap bin and it ended up being Stampin'Up's really rust and eggplant envy and some unknown yellow. I pulled out one of my old SU sets All Season Wreath. I used my SU markers to color the image and embossed with a couple of different Cuttlebug embossing folders to get some texture on the card. The buttons are by Gina K designs. I love Fall and the colors just bring me so much joy....hope that you enjoy my card and thanks for stopping by.

Just For Fun Color #24

Good evening my friends!!
Hope that all is well in your part of the world. It has been a quiet day here, a little under the weather so I took a nap and it felt really good. I will just have to catch up with the housework , etc another day. I did manage to complete a couple of cards and the one that I am showing now is for the color challenge at Just For Fun . I am loving their stamps and just thought that I would try some of the new ones that I won out on this card. I used the faux postage stamp and the floral cube. I chose the unmounted and I love how crisp my images are. The colors for this week-Olive, Yellow and Cranberry are some of my favorites. I highlighted some of the flowers with just a touch of Stampin' Up cranberry crisp and sponged the edges of the yellow card stock. I hope that you'll let me know what you think and stop back by real soon! Love you all!

Scraps for Isabella's

Well, it's Monday and haven't been on the computer today...doctor's appointment out of town. I wanted to show you this card that I made for the only use scraps,and no larger than a 3x3 piece or it's equivalent at Isabella's Sketchbook . I decided to use my new image from her called "Christmas Sleigh". I used a piece of textured ivory for my card base and then used scraps from my Christmas cards two years ago. I paper pieced on the sleigh and one of the packages and then colored using Stampin' Up markers. Thanks for stopping by...I hope to get some things done and posted tomorrow, so keep an eye out!

cs-ivory card stock, SU cranberry crisp,dp
ink- SU cranberry crisp and old olive
Button-Gina K designs, Wal-Mart ribbon and SU punch

Magical Monday with Flowers

Welcome to another Magical Monday and our challenge for this week. Our own Gloria Westerman chose this week to use any image from Paper Cupcakes and add a flower to our card. I picked Nina's image "Sunday Afternoon" which I think is so beautiful. I colored the image and cut it out with my labels 3 Spellbinder die. I made my own flower cut from various sizes from the Spellbinder Peony die. I sponged it and then distressed it by some crinkling of the flowers. I hope you are in the mood to make some flowers and will play with us this week at There's Magic in the Air and don't forget that our blog hop which showcases some of the new releases at Paper Cupcakes goes through the 18th of August. If you haven't hopped yet, you still have time to visit, comment and have a chance to win some of Nina's lovely images.
Hope this is a great start to your week and hope to see you again soon! Please leave me a comment if you have time...I appreciate each and every one of you that reads my blog!

cs- Bazzil blue textured, Stampin' Up so saffron and watercolor 140lb
ink- Prismacolor pencils and oms, Memento summer sky and cottage ivy
accessories-spellbinders labels3 and peony

Always Playing with Paper #10

Happy Week-end!
Hope this is the start of a fabulous week-end for everyone! I am going to be away tomorrow so I thought that I had better get this card posted or I would let another challenge pass me by. I found a new challenge site last week and this is my first time playing at Always Playing with Paper and this week they are using the colors early espresso, very vanilla, cherry cobbler and kraft. I don't have my order with the early espresso or cherry cobbler yet so I substituted Gina K designs' lipstick red and chocolate which I held up to my samples and these are pretty close.
I used an older Stampin' Up set Country Blessings which is one of my fav fall sets. Hope you enjoy and I wish only happiness for everyone this week. Take care and see ya soon!


cs- SU very vanilla, kraft, Gina K lipstick red, chocolate
ink- Versafine Vintage Sepia, Memento Rhubarb stalk and desert sand
accessories- SU twill and hardware hodgepodge
sponging

Kid's Play for Flourishes

Hello my friends!!
I am entering the challenge called Kid's Play at Flourishes for a chance to win the full release of their new stamps this month. The challenge is to be inspired by a kid's game from childhood and one of my favorites many moons ago was hop scotch. I used to chalk the walkway from our back porch and play during the long summer days.

I love this autumn leaf dp which I do not know where it came from...but I layered it on fresh asparagus and chocolate card stock from Gina K designs. I stamped images from Flourishes set Autumn Flourish and made my own hop scotch board. The ribbon is twill and hemp tied in a bow from Stampin' Up. I sponged the pieces with Memento desert sand and stamped a background stamp with Versafine Vintage sepia to speckle and the images with Memento Potter's Clay. Loving my fall cards, just wish it wasn't close to 100 degrees...can't wait for Fall weather.

Time for the Tea Party Hop!

It's finally time! The Paper Cupcakes Tea Party Sketch blog hop and the release of the new images from Nina May. Each of the design team will be showcasing one of the new releases available starting today and there will be ever more new images available in the Paper Cupcakes store. You can get there by accessing the link in my sidebar. My image is Mouse Friends Bubbly Good Time. I loved playing with this image...I paper pieced the teacup and colored with prismacolor pencils and oms. I have included the sketch that I used below and you are welcome to take it for your own use.



You should have arrived here from Patti N. and the next stop for you will be Kim . If you get lost just return to Paper Cupcakes Challenge Blog and check the main list. Please leave a comment on each of our blogs and at the end of the hop Nina will draw two lucky winners for 5 free images from the Paper Cupcakes store . Be sure and take the free sketch at each design team member's blog. Enjoy!

cs- Gina K designs chocolate, dp Making Memories 140lb watercolor
Ink- prismacolor pencils and oms, Memento Angel Pink, Clear star gelly roll pen
Ribbon- Michael's
Image- Paper Cupcakes Mouse Friends Bubbly Good Time

Almost late for Isabella's

Good Tuesday to all!
Here I am almost late posting my card for the Buttons and Bows challenge at Isabella's Sketchbook this week. I would have been so disappointed in not playing this week as I love the new image that I just got from Isabella called Birthday Party. I did a partial cut around the image using my scalloped rectangle nestibilities and then colored it with various Stampin' Up markers,adding Ranger stickles to make it a party. My background is embossed using the cuttlebug embossing folder "happy birthday" I rippled the ribbon and added some of my buttons from Gina K designs. I think this is a happy and fun card. Now, who to send it to?
If you have a few minutes this afternoon, check out this challenge and post your card. You will love her images!

It's Magical Monday, Again!

Welcome to a magical monday morning....it's a beautiful day and everything is Just Ducky! At least that is the image that Nina has designed for us this week. I am so happy with how this card turned out. I printed out my image and colored her with my Prismacolors and oms. This week it Dru's turn to choose the challenge and she requested sewing on our projects. I pierced my paper and did a simple backstitch with pink embroidery floss. I rounded the corners of my top piece to give it a little character and the image is cut out using spellbinders labels 3. I think this is a bright and happy card and would love to have all of you join us this week at There's Magic in the Air . This week Nina is giving away an image from the store, Paper Cupcakes...and I know there is something there for you! And please don't forget that our blog hop starts on Wednesday....be sure and stop back by.

cs- Su so saffron, unk pink, DCWV dp
ink- Various SU markers and Prismacolor pencils and oms
Accessories- spellbinders labels3, sizzix daisy, making memories brad, 1/4 punch, rounder punch, embroidery floss and American Crafts ribbon

Just for Fun challenge #23

Happy Sunday afternoon!
I hope that everyone has had a wonderful week-end. I received my Just for Fun stamps that I won a little while back in the mail yesterday and just had to ink them up. This week at Just for Fun the challenge is to use the colors kraft, red and white. I love these stamps and plan on making some more cards like this. I don't usually do a lot of multiples of a card, even my Christmas ones, but I love how this turned out. I like the rustic style and loved this Folk Santa as soon as I saw him on the site. I also used my new large snowy pine stamp. Thanks for looking and be sure to play this week if you have time. The prize is a $50 gift certificate to their store.

cs- Gina K white, rocket red and tan leather
ink- Versafine vintage sepia
ribbon- Gina K
Stamps- Just for Fun Folk Santa and Large Snowy Pine

Blog Candy from Mary Anne

My friend Mary Anne is celebrating her one year blogging anniversary with free candy to one lucky person. Please stop by and take a look at the goodies and become a follower. She is one lovely person and you will enjoy the inspiration that she shares with us all.

Her blog Lakeside Stamping even sounds like the kind of place you want to visit. Here is a picture of all the goodies. This is open until August 31, so go by and see all the details to win.

NO embellies allowed!!

And let me tell all of you out there that this was a hard challenge!!
At Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge this week we were restricted to not use any embellies...only paper,ink, coloring tools or die cut and punches. I didn't think it would be as hard as it was to accomplish a card with no extras. I used Stampin' Up kiwi kiss as my card base and some new dp by Sasha Paper collection that I picked up this week. I cut a window with Spellbinders peony nesties and stamped my images from Flourishes set Summer Blossoms inside of the opening. I also punched with my Martha Stewart cornice punch along the side of the top piece that is raised up with pop dots. My ink is Memento Pear tart. I hope that you can stop by and play this week and see what you can do with NO embellies.
Thanks for stopping by.

Just under the Wire!!

This is cutting it close!!
I have been meaning to get this card together and posted all week and just realized I had almost run out of time. This is for two challenges this week, I haven't been playing long at The Speedy Cat and this is my first time at Always Playing with Paper . But I thought I could combine the criteria...Speedy wanted a thank you card and Always Playing with Paper a vintage card. I used some of my retired stash from Stampin' Up and I have always loved this paper. Hope that you do also, and if like me you really like a challenge there are a few hours left until the deadlines.

cs- SU blue bayou, retired dp and ivory
ink- SU blue bayou
stamps- SU Much Apprecitated and Simple Friendships
accessories- satin ribbon from the Dollar Tree and Labels 4 spellbinders

The Tea Party Blog Hop starts Wednesday August the 11th and I just want to remind all of you that there will be all new designs....they are so cute and I know that you will want some for your very own, and there will be free digis given away. Please stop by my blog and those of the other design team members and leave us a comment to let us know how you like our cards made with Nina's new designs. Mine is adorable and I can't wait to show you. I will be posting this week's challenge card on Monday and then on Wednesday you can see my new tea party image. For more information stop by TMITA .
Looking forward to seeing you next week at the Tea Party.

So Happy!!

Just a quick note to let you all in on my great news...my card was picked for the queen of the week at Isabella's Sketchbook . This is something new that they are doing in addition to the regular challenge and it started this week. If they have at least 9 people participating they will give this award to the card that Isabella herself chooses, along with 2 free digis. I am so excited and honored to receive it this week as I have been a huge fan of her artwork and challenges ever since I found her site. So, what are you waiting on .... hurry on over and look at this week's challenge and you too may walk away with this award. Thanks for listening to me celebrate.

Blessed to have Olga as a friend!

I was out of town yesterday, so I am late in realizing that my friend Olga has given me this honor. She is a sweet person online and in real life. One thing that I love about her is her sense of humor. Thanks so much,

The rules of this award are as follows:

1. You must thank the person that gave you the award.
2. Copy the award and put it on your blog.
3. Tell 3 things that you love about yourself.
4. Post a picture that you love.
5. Tag 5 people that you want to give this award to.

Things that I love about me:
1. I have an outgoing personality
2. My positive attitude
3. Whatever is in me that makes my friends care so much and so loyal...love you all!

One of my fav pictures is this one taken a few years ago when several couples that I know and Rick and I went on a cruise through the inside passage of Alaska. This was on my birthday and a side excursion that we took into the Yukon from Skagway. Loved it!



I would like to pass this on to the following people:
Linda P.
Mary Anne
Cheri
Theresa P.
Gloria W.

Thanks ladies, hope that you enjoy this award as I enjoy visiting your blogs!!
I hope to be back later with some posts...off to my stamp room for some fun!

Fun for Fall!!

Fall is my favorite time of year and I love making cards for the season. There were two challenges this week for which I thought my card would work. The first is to make a fall card with either leaves or pumpkins and glitter or emboss on the card. This one was Joan's Gardens . Just For Fun's challenge this week was to use orange, brown and olive, just the right colors!
I used Gina K's chocolate for the card base and added some of the retired dp from Stampin' Up to layer. My image is from SU's set Bountiful Blessings which is also retired. I colored with Prismas and oms. My glitter is on the leaves which I colored and cut out. I love the distressed look of this and hope that you will enjoy it too!
Just wanted to share some good news...I picked up a couple of commissions for cards and a paper craft project that I will post and show you when it is finished. I am so excited to get the work and to share with all of you. Take care and have a great evening...off to make dinner.

Floral teacup for TMITA

Good Monday Morning!!
Hope that everyone has had a great week-end and is ready for the next challenge at There's Magic in the Air . It's Amber's turn to host this week and our challenge is to use any image by Paper Cupcakes and at least 3 patterned papers. I decided to use Nina's image Floral Teacup which is one of my favorites. I also used some of my favorite designer paper by K&Co Ancestry.com. which is double sided. I printed the image on another piece of dp which I have had for years and not sure who it is by. It has a very soft look with skeleton leaves and a faint floral pattern. I mounted my papers on a card base of SU blue bayou and tan. I just softly colored the flowers in the teacup with SU blue bayou, certainly celery and going gray. I love this copper ribbon and think it gave it the perfect accent with the colors in the papers. I hope you will enjoy it and leave me a comment. Also check out some of the images at Paper Cupcakes....over the next few weeks I will be showcasing some of my favorites.
This is the inside of my card. I left it sentiment free on purpose since sometimes I just want a card that I can write a message in and send for no special reason.



I want to remind everyone that our blog hop starts August 11....please be sure and stop by and look at the new releases and leave comments. Nina has some goodies to win! I can't wait to show you the one that I have used on my card...wish I could tell you more, but you will just have to wait until the 11th.
This week Nina is giving away these goodies to our winner...so get your images out and make a card and link it back to the challenge blog here .