Loving the fall colors

The leaves have been so beautiful this year that I wanted to make just a few more cards with them before they all fall down. For this card, I used this week's Case this Sketch 148 for the layout.

 

For the background, I used a piece of drywall tape and sponged over it for the soft grid look. I stamped the Lighthearted Leaves on Cajun Craze and Hello Honey with my Staz-on ink pad. Finally, I colored in some of the leaf patterns with a the Picket Fence distressing marker from Tim Holtz.

Thanks for stopping by!

New Goodies - FMS 211

As soon as I saw the Freshly Made Sketches this week, I knew I would have to wait for the UPS guy to bring my new stamping goodies. I couldn't wait to use Remarkable You (139894) flowers for the challenge. All in all, I stuck to the sketch quite literally this week, except for my little tag.

I used Night of Navy for my card base for a dramatic backdrop to my Pumpkin Pie flower, and a soft yellow dsp with for the circle. For my tag on the bottom, I used die frame to cut the decorative  edge, and added pearls for a special touch.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wrapping It Up

Hello! I need to mail by package off for the HYCCT drive today, and here are my last two cards. This first one is for a Thanks Bunches challenge so of course I went with a bunch of flowers. I don't typically like a busy flower background, but I thought this fit right in with the bunches of flowers theme I had going.

 

My second card is for the Tag challenge. My mojo was off for this one. I tried to add a few things to the base card like a versamark or tone-on-tone pattern, but I just couldn't get anything to work for me. It happens like that some days. Here's to a fresh start tomorrow!

Little Red Wagon

The HYCCT drive had me pulling out a few retired sets to complete the different challenges. This one was about transportation. I've always thought the "For the Birds" set is so cheerful with the images and the sayings. I chose my colors and papers to collaborate with that feeling. I hope this card will bring a little joy to someone who needs it most.

Have a great day!

Autumn Beauty

I have a few last minute additions to the Hope You Can Cling To card drive from Splitcoaststampers before I send my package off this week to the hospital. In the past, I've only ever completed two or three of the challenges, but this year I think I have 21 done. I'm hoping to complete all 40 next year. I've really enjoying the challenges, and seeing how everyone interprets them differently. Plus, it's for such a great cause.

This challenge was to create a card with torn or ripped edges. The leaves around the city have been so beautiful this week that I wanted to share that aspect of nature in a card.

I used the retired Gently Falling set which is a two step set, and the sentiment is from the retired Faith in Nature. Inking the leaf outline with Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze markers, I spritzed the stamp with water before I stamped it on the Very Vanilla paper. Then using Early Espresso I stamped the line drawing and the sentiment on. I used Always Artichoke for the base color, Crushed Curry and light tan patterned paper I had in my stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wrinkle Free Distressing

Hello! I've been working to get as many of the HYCCT card drive challenges completed before I need to mail off my package to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. One of the techniques I tried is Wrinkle Free Distress. It makes beautiful backgrounds with a quick and easy process. First, here's my card for this Tear Free challenge.

To make the watercolor effect, I used my silicon mat and applied the different inks making sure none of the inks touch. Then I spritzed the mat with water until the ink beaded up. Next, lay the paper down on the ink. You don't have to move the paper around. Once you pull the paper up, you can use your heat gun to dry your paper. You can repeat these steps until you get the desired result.

I made another background to use on the HYCCT rainbow challenge since I was really enjoying this "new to me" technique! Here's my rainbow card.

Have a great day!

Truth from an 8 year old

This past week my son was creating in my craft room with me. One of the HYCCT challenge was a kid's bonus where the kids were supposed to make a card with some of mom's favorite things. He did a great job, and even got a shout out on the CAS weekly favorites list. He was so excited! Here is his card.

Not sure if he realized how many of my favorites he hit. I love that kid!
1. Pool Party is my favorite color.
2. I'm pretty fond of banners and ribbons.
3. Truth is a big important word in our house.
4. I think I love to color as much as him. His bug rocks!

Staying Centered

It seems fitting that after a little break the first challenge of the HYCCT card drive I chose to work on was about finding a center of balance. Maintaining balance isn't easy is it? Make a card by only using the center for your image, sentiment etc.

I'm working on getting into a rhythm again after my recent migraines, and coloring this beautiful flower was a nice, relaxing start. Thanks for stopping by.

The Perfect Blend

It's been a few days since I've been in my craft room. As a migraine sufferer, I get really frustrated at the times when headaches keep me from living life. So it was important to me that I got a little time, even on a simple card, to create something tonight.

When I saw the Freshly Made Sketches challenge for this week, I thought it would be perfect for one of the  HYCCT cards I have been thinking about for the last few days. The challenge was to use the word PINKALICIOUS and unscramble 3-4 words from those letters that apply to your card. I came up with: cup, pink, ink, snip (I paper pieced the parts of the cup together), and skip (I skipped parts of the circles in the background element).

This was the perfect blend of easy and creative that I needed today. Hope you enjoy!

Hugs From a Cutie!

I'm stampers! I'm back today with a card for the HYCCT drive. This challenge was to use either an image hugging or the word "hugs" on your card. Try as I might, I don't have any stamps of hugging, but I think this cute little koala looks like he is hugging the U. What do you think?

From Sketch to Card

Today's card is for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge. I really enjoy seeing how the sketches come to life differently for all the various stampers.

I was doing a little organizing in my craft room when I came across this ribbon set, and my mind went instantly to this sketch. The colors just really pop on the background paper, don't they?

Have a great day!

You!

I got my inspiration for this card from a few different card challenges including Retro Sketches and CASology, but the start of it all came from Splitcoaststamper's HYCCT challenge, "Undergoing Renovation". That's one clever, and slightly humorous, way to put it...when someone has to deal with breast reconstruction after surgery.  

The challenge is to take a card you have made in the past, and that you like, and make another one that you like just as much...similar, but different and new and exciting.

This is my original card.

Here is my renovated version. 

Special Delivery

I just love the little snail from the Better than Email set (140463) So when the HYCCT challenge was to create a card that won't cost extra postage with a postage image, I couldn't resist! I went for a super simple approach because I wanted the cute little fellow to be the focus.

Enjoy!

For You

Hello! Last night as I was getting into my craft room, I was explaining this HYCCT challenge for including tasty food on your card to my eight year old. He thought that was "awesome" so he was in charge of picking the tasty food stamp. I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch. I'm really pleased with how everything came together. Thanks for stopping by!

Adding Strength

This might be one of my favorite most recent creations. I wasn't sure how I would strengthen the background paper for this HYCCT challenge. I started out just looking through my paper stash to see what I had. I love the colors in this paper so it was an easy choice, plus I knew exactly which stamp I would use.

I hope you are all enjoying this card drive as much as me! It has gotten me excited about stamping again, and it's a great way to support people going through difficult times in their lives. Hope you have a fantastic day today!

Lend a Hand

This particular HYCCT challenge pulled me out of my comfort zone. I like taking all the stamping elements: stamp sets, paper, colors, accessories, and putting together different and unique cards, but this one wanted us to create art with just our fingers or our hand.

Here's what I came up with. It's not my favorite card, but it was the idea stuck in my head. Some times you just have to get the ideas out so you can move on to something better. I drew the centers of the dandelions and the stems, and used my finger tips to create the little tufts of color.
 
I hope someone's day is brighten by my messy fingers!
 

Mustache Madness

My daughter loves anything with mustaches, t-shirts, puppies, necklaces, you name it. If it has a mustache on it, it's 100 times cuter for her. She needs a birthday card this month for dad so here's what I came up with.  I started with this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge, and of course had to include mustaches! Have a great day.

Beautiful flowers

Does everyone love getting flowers? They can always brighten my day. Just even looking at a beautiful garden makes me smile.

This HYCCT challenge is to make a freestyle collage card.

Use the Paper!

I am a DSP hoarder. There I've admitted it. I'm working on using the papers I have and enjoying them. Otherwise, they sit on my shelves and gather dust. They won't bring anyone enjoyment there!

This HYCCT challenge is to use an  UNcolored line image on your card. If you want to accent a small part of the image with a color or sparkle, that's okay. You can stamp it on whatever paper you want in whatever ink you want, just don't color in your lines.

So Many Possibilities

I went back and forth a lot about the Words of Truth (139397) set before I ordered it, but man I have found so many ways to use it once it arrived. Originally, I thought it would be good for encouraging notes for my kids in their lunches, but I have used it for a job well done to a love you card. I'm really glad I got. I'm finding all kinds of ways to include it in a card.

This HYCCT challenge was to use three hearts. Have a great day!

Inspiration

These last few days I have been so excited to get in my stamp room and start creating. It's amazing what a little inspiration can do for you!

This HYCCT challenge was to create an inspirational card, and I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch to start it off. Here's what I came up with. Enjoy!

Split the Difference

Two days in a row…Hooray!!

This HYCLT challenge was to include a sentiment strip that extends the full length or width of your card - somewhere in the middle. The new Lighthearted Leaves set (139712) from the Stampin' Up! holiday catalog is too cute and has so many possibilities!

Have a great day!

Hope You Can Cling To

I have been gone far too long, and I'm going to try to, at least, post the cards I am making right now.

I've just had a burst of creativity with Splitcoaststampers month long card drive, "Hope You Can Cling To." It benefits those affected by breast cancer and partners with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. I encourage you to join the drive and help lift the spirits of everyone involved.