Another Saturday Inspirational Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.I was inspired by the 1st wallet in the 2nd row; when I saw that wallet I immediately thought of my new Verve stamps because the floral stems reminded me of the grass. Once I decided to use my Verve stamps, I hopped over to check on the Verve challenge. Oh how wonderful! The colors of the dining room were similar to the wallet I chose in the IC challenge. I just love it when things work out like that. The Verve challenge can be found here.

Have a great weekend!!

Recipe:
Images: Floral Symphony (Verve)
Paper: Craft, Bermuda Bay (SU), Offbeat (Basic Grey)
Ink: Taken with Teal, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories: Gold brads (making Memories)

Favorites

I had a fun afternoon combining three challenges into one card. The first challenge was Cindy Motherway's (aka MotherMark) Teaparty Tuesday Challenge (MMTPT) over on Splitcoaststampers. This week we were to bring our favorite things to the "breakfast at Tiffany's" teaparty. I brought coffee (of course), blueberry muffins, bling and friends. The second challenge was the Color Throwdown (CTD76) to use Melon Mambo, So Saffron and Old Olive. The third challenge, SSSC53, was Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Recipe:

Stamps: My Cuppa Joe (Gina K Designs), Friendly words jumbo (SU!)

Paper: Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Old Olive, DSP- Razzleberry Lemonade (SU!), Solar White Neenah)

Ink, Black, Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Barely Banana, Creamy Caramel, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: jeweled brads, Melon Mambo ribbon, Small oval punch, scalloped punch (SU!), Nestabilities, blender pen, sponge.

Have a great week! Marilyn

Friend Valentine & Featured Stamper Challenge

Isn't this a great card?! Well, I am not bragging, but "tooting my horn" for Karen B. Barber who was selected as the Featured Stamper over at SCS. I chose this card to case. It is really more like a copy but I did change a few things.

I added eyelets to the scallop circle instead of Karen's punched circles. I move the bow and changed the color. I changed the stamp in the scallop circle, and changed some of the paper patterns. I kept the red and white theme, the sketch, the sentiment and used similar papers from SU patterns pack.

Happy Sunday! Marilyn

Recipe:
Image: All Holidays, Riveting
Paper: Real Red, DP- Pattern Pack (SU!), Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: White Craft
Accessories: Eyelets (stash), cropadile, ribbon (michaels), Bow easy

Shoebox Swap Card~ Valentine

This is the card I created for the shoebox swap that I will be attending this afternoon. A group of St. Louis card makers get together about once a month. I haven't been able to attend in over a year due to scheduling conflicts so I am very excited to participate today and see my shoebox friends.

Have a great Saturday!

Recipe:
Image: Polka Dot Punches (SU!)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Solar White (neenah), DP: red- Sunnyside (We R Memory Keepers), pink from pattern pack (SU!), word (Target $1 bin)
Ink: Rose Red
Accessories: Loopy Heart punch (MS), Ribbon- Offray

Best Friend

My fifteen year old nephew had a birthday earlier this month & this is the card I made for him. The breed of dog on the card is a Cairn Terrier & this is same breed as his dog. This is also the same kind of dog that I have. Both our dogs are a light tan color, thus the choice of ink color- creamy caramel.

I stamped the background with the 'ruff', the 'bark', and the paw & bone acrylic stamps from Inkadinkado's dog set using creamy caramel. Then using the color spritzer tool and my chocolate chip marker, I misted ink over the craft card stock. That look is especially great for guy cards as it adds color and dimension without adding 'girly' embellishments.

Below is a picture of my little dog, Karlee.
Have a great day!

Marilyn

Card Recipe:
Image: Terrier (Stamp Gallery), Dogs (Inkadinkado), Happy Birthday (Teeny Tiny Wishes)
Paper: Craft, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Chocolate chip, Vanilla
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Twine, Spritzer tool.

Poppy Hearts

Here's the card I made for the Featured Stamper challenge. Anne, aka jdmommy, is a wonderful artist. I chose this card to case. Several new products were used- Sugar Rush paper from Basic Grey; the pearl pin and pearls aren't exactly new but this is the first time I used them; the embossing powder called Zing from American Crafts. I got the Zing powder from this cool webstore that offers daily specials. One special per day & when it's sold out there is nothing else for that day. CHeck it out if you like good deals; Peachy Cheap.

Have a great week!

Marilyn

Recipe:
Image: Weather of Not (retired SU!)
Paper: Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, WW (SU!), DP- Sugar Rush (Basic Grey)
Ink: Real Red - craft
Accessories: Zing embossing powder-Poppy (American Crafts), mini dot ribbon (offray), pearl pin and pearls (unknown), real red brads (SU), paper piercer (THoltz) and mat pack (SU!), loopy heart punch (MS)

Razzleberry Violets

Last night I stayed up late to paper craft. This is one of the cards I made for three challenges. First, the Inspirational challenge (IC215) where I chose these floral prints from Nell Hills as my inspiration. I used the colors from this week's SCS color challenge (CC253): pretty in pink, chocolate chip, rich razzleberry, a neutral (I picked black) and a bonus challenge to incorporate hounds-tooth. Additionally, I chose a sketch challenge from August, SC243.

I chose the February stamp from the retired set "Stamp of the Month". It retired before I started stamping, but I really like it & so I waited patiently until I could find an inexpensive set on Ebay. I think it makes a nice female birthday card. One of the things I purchased with Christmas money from my in-laws was more Copic sketch markers. Last year, I received the basic set, which contains a 12 markers, one from a different color family. With my in-laws generosity, I now have twenty more markers that blend with these basics. So I think I am now equipped to learn Copic coloring.

On a personal note, we had the services for my mother yesterday. It was beautiful & lots of friends and family were present. My youngest daughter left about an hour ago; she's heading back to college & my oldest daughter leaves tomorrow. So for better or worse, I will be having a lot more time on my hands.

Thank you for your support, your inspiration and friendship! {{{Hugs}}}

Marilyn

Always

Today was the Featured Stamper challenge over at Splitcoaststampers. I enjoyed looking thru WeeBeeStampin's gallery was a real pleasure. Here is her blog. This card was pretty simple, but I like how it turned out. One little tip on this card is about my corners. I do not own a ticket punch instead I use a small circle punch 1/4 inch. I insert my paper with the punch upside down where I can see a little triangle of paper or 1/4th of the punch circle and then snip that tip.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

Recipe:
Image: Always (SU!)
Paper: Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, White, DSP-RazzleBerry Lemonade (SU!)
Ink: Pink Passion
Accessories: Heart border Punch (MS), Melon Manbo polka dot grosgrain ribbon (SU!),

Icy Leaves, Purple Sky

Happy Saturday! It is still freezing here in the Midwest but the wind has died down in St. Louis so it actually felt warm at 6 degrees. Well, maybe I should say felt warmer than the past few days.

This card was created for two challenges. The SCS Inspirational Challenge, IC214, finding inspiration from M.Wilson's etsy store. I chose her Indigo and Onyx print except I changed the colors to purple hues. The second challenge was the Paper Craft Planet's Sketch Challenge, SK010910.

I find purple challenging although I love it. I just never seem happy with coordinating colors with purple (except for my fav- blue). I messed around for hours, changed colors, then finally settled with the pixie pink. What's your opinion of purple? I am not sure how much I like the card, but I like that it is done. Even though it sounds like I am whinning~ I had a wonderful afternoon with no commitments & I just played! Maybe tomorrow will be a better mojo day.

Have a great evening!

Recipe:
Stamps: Best Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Chocolate chip, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence, Pixie Pink (SU!); DP-Pocket full of Posies (DCWV)
Ink: Perfect Plum, Craft White (SU!)
Accessories: Boho Blossom & Modern Label punches (SU!), Scallop Corner punch (Marvy), Winter White embossing powder (SU!), purple gemstones (Paper Studio)

Fore Brother

My older brother's birthday was this past Tuesday (5th). He is a huge golf fanatic so I purchased this Stampabilities "Vintage Golfer" stamp with him in mind several months ago. His birthday sometimes catches me off guard because it is so close to the holidays, but I was prepared this year. I am trying something new this year. SPecifically, I will make all my birthday cards for the month in the preceding month and prepare the envelopes for mailing. This month I chose cards from my existing stock for many of the January birthdays. Let's see how this works~ I am hoping to be better at getting cards to their destination on time.

On a bitter-sweet note, my 89 year old mother passed away last evening. Mom moved to a nursing home about four miles from my home in late May. She had been living with my sister for four years~ a real blessing for all of us & so giving of my sister; but Mom became increasingly weaker so it was time for round the clock care. Nearly thirty years ago, I moved from my home town to St. Louis (about a 3 hour drive). So when Mom moved near me in May, I was able to see her nearly every evening; something that was not possible since I was a young adult. What a blessing to be able to spend so much time together! Unfortunately, her health continued to deteriorate and last evening I was at her bedside when she passed peacefully.

The pictures below are from December 27th, when I organized a family holiday gathering at the nursing home for my family- my siblings and our children. Not all of Mom's grandkids could make it, but we had a small family crowd. My mom loved it! The first picture is Mom and all her children (Mom, me and my three siblings). The second picture is me with my family~my husband, and my two daughters. Although I am sad to have lost the best mom and the best role model in the world, I am happy as she is free of pain and with her love, my dad. If you have a spare minute or two, say a little prayer for Mom and my family.