Spring Wishes

 

Happy Spring! I know, I've said that phrase on almost every post since the beginning of March, but I just can't help myself! 

I am so happy for the warmer weather, nature's colors and the promise of driving the convertible on a regular basis. LOL! 

Back to stamping...my creation is for two challenges. The first a sketch challenge from the Clean & Simple Blog (FTL182) ; the sketch is below. When I saw this sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to do. 

I recently purchased a small package of the pink felt flowers at Michael's $1 spot. At the time I did not have anything in mind, but I thought they were cute & the price was right. The second challenge is the CAS-ual Friday (CFC45) challenge to use pastel and black.

I probably wouldn't have used black if it weren't for this challenge, but I like the way it turned out. I'm really happy I got a few hours of play time in the studio. It is going to be a busy weekend with the family so I probably won't get much more stamping time, but my family time is even better than stamping. Thanks for stopping to see me~ your comments & encouragement mean so much to me. I'll get by your blogs by Monday or Tuesday. 

Here's hoping you have a fabulous weekend!

Hugs, 

Marilyn

 Supplies: Stamps: Spring has Sprung by Rupa Shevde (Gina K); Paper: White (neenah), Black (SU!), Pink- from retired DSP-Berry Bliss (SU!); Ink: Tuxedo Black Momento (Tsukineko); Accessories: Circle & Scallop punches (SU!), pink felt flowers with rhinestones (Michaels).

Daffodil Day

Hey there! How's it going? I'm having a great week & I hope you are too. I made this card for two challenges~ my favorite combo- a sketch and a color challenge! The sketch is from Clean & Simple's FTL180 & the color challenge is from CR84FN49 challenge to use gray, craft & yellow.

For my image, I used SU! "Just Believe" stamp inked in Basic Gray on Daffodil Delight cardstock. I outlined the image using a crushed curry marker. The large dots gray panel was made with a new purchase of the Quickutz Polka Dots embossing folder that I'd been seeing out there in Blogland. Love it! The DP, ribbons and button is all SU!'s Daffodil Delight. And to think I almost didn't purchase this Daffodil cardstock when it first came out because I don't consider yellow a favorite color. So why then would I have buttons, DP, several spools of ribbon?

Hugs,

Marilyn

VO Ribbon Challenge & Sale

Hey blogger friends! I hope my US friends had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I loved being off for 4 days in a row. It was such a treat to spend time with family and in my studio. This week is my last week at my current job. I have really enjoyed this job and will miss the people, but I was offered a real exciting opportunity. I am hopeful that I won't have to put in 60 hours a week to keep up & the location is much closer to home which will give me more STAMPING and creating time! I know I will be busy in the beginning trying to learn the business, department and my job, but I am ever hopeful it will be closer to 40 hours a week once I settle in.

Anyway, here is the card I created for the Victorine Originals Challenge to use ribbon. Easy peezy, right?!  Check out the VO online catalog while you are at it, because Vicki is offering half-price on all unmounted stamps but just through tonight.

 Don't you just love the sentiment?! Cracks me up.I also used the sketch from Clean & Simple FTL168 challenge. It was fun making a non-holiday card for a change even if I love making holiday cards, a little variety is good, right?!

I used my Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage paper and die cuts. I love this retired collection and I have hardly used it. It just seemed perfect for these two challenges.
Have a great day! Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies:

Stamps: Secret of Youth- 1244-E (Victorine Originals) 

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento)

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Basic Black (SU), DP-Bayberry Cottage (Pink Pasilee)

Accessories: Scallop Circle & Fancy Tags 1 (Spellbinders), Black grosgrain ribbon (SU) 

 

Holiday Card Day

Today was a rather fun day! This morning we made 10 holiday cards at one of the SU demos home. I can't show you those here because they aren't my designs but we did have a fun time. After that I felt in the mood to make more & play a few challenges so this one is for the SCS IC309 challenge. I chose this wallpaper from this week's inspirational website. I love these new Fair-isle stamp sets from Wplus9. I also used the clean and simple sketch FTL165 for my card today. I hope you like it! Here's the sketch.  Hugs,Marilyn

Island Dreaming

Happy Sunday, Friends! This has been a great weekend after a very long & challenging work week for me. I will be glad to start afresh tomorrow after my retail therapy yesterday & today's creative therapy. This is one of the cards I made. I chose the colors for the card based upon the ColourQ challenge (CQC99) to use Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Indigo Island.

I grabbed my DCWV Mango Frost papers and cut down the main panel. It reminds me of Jamaica, thus the title of the card. I used my new Indigo Island ribbon from Stampin Up & some retired SU! felt flowers coupled with some Indigo Island cardstock Boho Blossoms punched flowers. For my sketch I chose the Clean & Simple's Fall to Layout 155 (FTL155).

As you can see, I let the papers do most of the 'talking' on this card. I hope you like it. Have a great Sunday!
Hugs,

Marilyn

Dog Gone It

Hello friends! How's your week going? So far, I'm off to a fab start. This past Friday night and Saturday night, I stamped & cropped with friends. I was pretty proud of myself as I got eight scrapbook pages done or near done. I usually do more visiting than I do creating, but I was pretty prepared with all my pictures sorted and all my supplies. I have to add a few titles (needed my Cricut for that) and a little journaling, but the pictures, embellishments and layouts are done. I'll post when I get the set done. 

So today I made the card above for two challenges. The Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge (SC328) to use Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and a neutral. The other challenge was the Clean & Simple Fall to Layout (FTL145) to use the sketch below. Don't you just love both?! After I got my card underway, I thought what a great color combo for holiday cards.  Have you made any holiday cards yet? I've been thinking about it...oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Hope you have a great rest of your week. Thanks for stopping & see ya soon! 

Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies:

Image: Dog Gone It (The Digi Shack)

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Night Of Navy, Crumb Cake (SU), White (Neenah)

Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa (SU retired), Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, So Saffron (SU)

Accessories: Square Lattice embossing folder (SU), 1-1/4"Night of Navy striped grosgrain

Another Sunday card~ Life is Sweet!

Hi again! I made another card today. It was a little reward to myself for my work today. I continued sorting & organizing in my studio & converting my wood stamps. Plus I have started an inventory of my stamps by stamping the images on a 4X6 cards according to categories. One of these days, I'll show you how I converted my stamps...I am so happy with it!

Anyway, my card is for the Fall To Layout challenge(FTL144) over on the Clean & Simple Stamping Blog to use the sketch below. Isn't this a great sketch! I know I will be using it frequently. 

In addition, I made this card for the ColorThrowdown challenge (CTD145) to use:

I just love Baja Breeze so, how could I not play?!  I did a micro imitation of Kittie's floral sprays and wreaths along the sides of my tag. If you haven't seen her work, you must check it out. She's so kind to put up tutorials & she even personally helped me find the correct punches. How sweet was that?!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Marilyn

Stamps:Just Believe (SU), Sentiment (SU-unknown set)
Paper: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, White, DSP- A Walk in the Park (retired)- all SU!
Ink: Craft White, Baja Breeze (SU)
Accessories: Winter White embossing powder (SU), branch and branch 1 punches (MS), trio flower punch (SU-retired), Fancy Tags die (Spellbinders), pearls (stash)

Hello Wednesday

Hello friends & Happy Wednesday! I made this simple and fast card for two challenges. First the FTL141 challenge or the Fall to Layout challenge. I adore this CAS sketch & I have used a very similar one as one of my 'go to sketches' especially when creating card sets. Maybe I'll make one up soon :) The second challenge is for the CD102 or the ColorDare challenge to use Concord Crush, So Saffron and your choice of a neutral. I am so happy this challenge is back- I love the colors that are chosen. I must confess that I actually didn't even use a neutral, so I hope the challenge police don't come after me. You won't tell will you?! Have a great rest of your week.

All supplies SU!

Stamp: Warmest Regards(retired)

Paper: So Saffron, Concord Crush, DSP-Paper Stack-In Colors-Concord Crush (gotta' love this dsp!)

Ink: Concord Crush

Accessories: Punches- 5-Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms, Modern Label, Scallop Edge Border; Ribbon- 5/8" grosgrain-So Saffron (retired bundle special), 1/8" taffeta-Daffodil Delight; Rhinestone Brad-Square Ice

Happy Hugs, 

Marilyn

Classic Valentine

Hello from snowy St. Louis! I hope you all are enjoying your weekend. I've been busy with the usual life activities- work during the week & caring for the household on weekends. Fortunately, I've had some fun time in the studio. Here's one of my creations today. I used my new Gina K Lovely Labels 2 stamps which coordinates with Spellbinders Nestabilities. This one is Labels 14. I made this card for two challenges; Clean & Simple's Fall-to-Layout (FTL124) and Create 4 Fun (CR84FN11) color challenge to use red, craft and brown. The brown paper is retired SU! called Bella Rose. I'm almost out of this designer & I have so enjoyed playing with it's beautiful roses. The flower was made from SU! 5 petal punch & paper flowers from Michael's $1 bin, and a gold heart brad from my stash. The red gemstones came with the Michael's flowers. I added a layer of SU! crystal effects on the gold heart brad. I hope you like it! 

Hugs, Marilyn