Heather Butterflies

This card was made for Splitcoaststamper's Virtual Stamp night, the "I" challenge, to make a Thank You card ala Elvis "Thank You, Thank You Very Much". I also used Julee Tillman's July Sketch 519.

The DSP I used was free from the Sale-a-bration SU! Catalog...gorgeous paper with colors on one side & black and white on the other which makes a perfect pairing. I'm so glad I have a few packs of this paper! I love letting the DSP do the work for the card... makes a pretty card even when you only add a sentiment. I hope you have a great week!

Stamps: Butterfly Gala

Paper: Black, White, Highland Heather, Purple Posy, DSP- Botantical Butterfly

Ink: Black Tuxedo- Momento

Accessories: Butterfly Duet punch

Figgy Flourish

Hello Friends!
My card today was made for two SCS challenges. First, yesterday's color challenge, SCS CC648, to use Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Fresh Fig and Vanilla. I subbed white for vanilla.
The second was today's sketch challenge, SC658.

It took me a while to get a combination of the sketch and the colors that was pleasing to my eye. I cut the flourish in all three colors, tried the negative, had two different card base colors & multiple color combos of layer 2 and 3.  I just kept trying different arrangements until I came up with this. I have been CASEing most of my cards from Pinterest & so my own design mojo has taken a long holiday. I really enjoyed the process & why I wanted to get back to the challenges. I didn't get even a little frustrated but rather I just enjoyed the organic nature of creating something on my own. My own kind of challenge to resist frustration, if you know what I mean!

Thanks for stopping & have a great day!

Recipe:
Stamps: Happy Birthday (SU)
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Fresh Fig, DSP- Floral Flourishes (SU), Solar White #110 (Neenah)
Paper size: A2
Ink: Fresh Fig  (SU)
Accessories: Flourish thinlits (SU), patterned paper cutter blade 

Here's the Story...

Another happy day as I got to play more challenges!

The challenges today was the color challenge over on Splitcoaststampers- CC409. Today's colors are Rose Red, Pink Pirouette & Wisteria Wonder. I've been using my Copics more recently & I didn't quite have the quite the match for Rose Red used on her pants, but I like how it turned out anyway. 

The sketch was the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #106 as shown below. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies:
Stamps: Here's the Story (MFT)
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, DSP-Springtime Vintage (SU), Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Black Tuxedo (Momento), Copic markers
Accessories: OVal and scalloped oval dies (Spellbinders), pearls (stash), Pink ribbon (SU!),   

I'm Back & with a Holiday Card

Hi there, Friends!

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. We sure did- both our daughters made it home for a long weekend.  I've been MIA from Blogland for a few weeks - busy with job interviews (nothing yet) & having the interior of our home painted. With a two story entry foyer, the hubby said "call professionals'. Isn't he smart?! So that's where I've been. But I have been making holiday cards...nothing out of the ordinary & some case'd, but I'll post some of my creations over the next few weeks in case any spark your creativity.

My card today is for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge (CC403) to use Gumball Green, Real Read and Basic Gray. Great combination, don't you think? I used my new stamp set from the SU! Holiday catalog called Winter Memories. My background is Basic Gray stamped on white using Stampabilities Wood-grain stamp.I've had that stamp for a long time & it never gets old...just a classic wood grain.

Thanks for stopping! Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies: 
Stamps: WInter Memories (SU); Woodgrain (Stampabilities)
Ink: Basic Gray, Basic Black, markers (SU)
Paper: Real Red, White, Gumball Green, Basic Gray (SU)
Designer paper: Christmas Plaid (Paper Pizzaz) 
Accessories: Holly punch (MS), 1/4" circle punch (SU), green twine (MS), gray white twine (Twinery)

Sew Krafty

Hello friends! I haven't posted much this month for several reasons. First, it is that time for kids to go back to school. Since my daughters are in college this means purchases, loads of laundry, packing cars, driving hundreds of miles...you get the idea. My second reason for little posts is that we had our family vacation & were gone for a week plus several days of laundry and packing.

The above card was made for the SCS CAS challenge. The challenge today was to use the colors turquoise, kraft and white. I started with a base of Tempting Turquoise from SU! I chose my new stamp from Hero Arts called Make your Own & stamped it on craft paper using black ink. I used a partial doily as my background. My sentiment was computer generated and punched out with SU! word punch. Small pieces of temptine turquoise & white lace hem tape were knotted to a small safety pin with the sentiment. The buttons are from Oriental Trading.

I really like this retro sewing theme that we are seeing in stamping because it reminds me of my Mom and my Dad's mom who were excellent seamstresses. I have a little collection of retro sewing items including my great-grandmother's non-electric, foot powered sewing machine. It is fun to create with the retro images and things when the memories are so pleasant!

Have a great evening!

Supplies:
Image: Make your Own- Hero Arts
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Kraft, White (SU)
Ink: tuxedo Black (Momento)
Accessories: Doily, tempting turquoise ribbon (SU!), Lace hem tape (Wrights), tiny safety pin, buttons (ORiental Trading).

Con-GRAD-ulations!

Today's Featured Stamper over on SCS was Cathleen (aka ctorina). Cathleen has a beautiful gallery; she makes the most amazing cards with beautiful flowers and ribbon. However, today I needed to get busy making graduation cards. We have several family friends who are finishing their HS years.

I chose to case Cathleen's Whimsical Sheep card. I kept the colors because these are the school colors for the graduating senior. I also kept the design. I changed the papers, the central panel to embossed words and the embellishments.

Have a great week!

Supplies:
Image: Embossed folder- 2 X 2.75 - Congrats (ProvoCraft)
Paper: Black, White, Baja Breeze, Real Red (SU); DP- Real Red (SU-mat pack), Offbeat (Basic Grey)
Ink: None
Accessories: Grad Cap (Sandylion stickers)- the tassel was yellow and I exchanged it with blue embroidery floss, Diploma- handmade with copy paper and embroidery floss, edge punch (Fiskars)

Fresh Apples

Today's card is a combination of SCS challenges and games. First and most importantly, the Queen for the Day (QFTD05) this past Friday was a wonderful woman and stamper, Coffeestamper, aka Sue. Sue is one of the nicest people on SCS, she is encouraging and supportive. She does amazing things with paper and ink and so I really wanted to make a card in her honor even though it is late. I cased her card called You're a Star. I kept her basic layout, the color of red and blue and the ribbon. I changed the papers, image, and traded the ribbon slide for a brad-flower-bow embellishment.

Last week the Inspirational Challenge (IC228) was crate labels. I had just purchased the retired SU! set "farm fresh', so it seemed like Kismet that I should play. I've loved the 'farm fresh' set since I first started stamping but it retired before I could purchase. It reminds me of home and country living as well as the decor of my first kitchen. I chose this crate label.

The last challenge was Monday's Technique Lovers' Challenge (TLC269) to incorporate piercing.

If you're still reading...I am going to boast a bit because I am so proud of myself, I have finally made a card with sewing that I can feel ok about posting. I know lots of you sew on cards but even with a new little Janome sewing machine, I just couldn't get the hang of it.

Thanks for stopping by! Over the next several days I will be posting a card set and box that I made, so please stop back by.

Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies:
Image: Farm Fresh (SU!)
Paper: White (Neenah), Brillant Blue, Real Red, Not Quite Navy from Pattern Pack (SU!), Red pattern (DCWV mat stack)
Ink: Black craft (SU), markers- Real Red, Green Galore, YoYo Yellow, Creamy Caramel (SU!)
Accessories: Embossing powder (SU), piercer (Tonic-Tim Holtz-one of the best tools ever- it's retractable!), Boho blossoms punch (SU!), red plaid brad (Target-outdoor adventure collection), blue flower (prima), ribbon (Michaels-textured trios), sewing machine, thread.

Best Wishes

HAP-Hap-Happy~ that's what I am today! Why you might ask? Well, it's because I got to make a card and play the SCS Free for All challenge - F4A5. I have had to travel for work so I was away from my stamps & studio until Wednesday. {No need to send a sympathy card- I am not permanently damaged now that I am re-united with my stash}

Anyway, the challenge was to make a card based upon your favorite Broadway show & the size had to be anything but A2 (4.25 x 5.5). My favorite Broadway show is Mama Mia. It's not that I am a big ABBA fan, but I do love the soundtrack. But there are two reasons that Mama Mia is my favorite. First, it is a great show- upbeat, fun, great costumes & great music. And the second reason is why I know this; we took a family vacation t0 New York City a few years ago & we got to see the show on Broadway. We all dressed up, had a fancy dinner and went to the show. It was so much fun. During the show I found myself taking secret glances at my husband and daughters. If you could have seen the smiles of enjoyment, it would have been your favorite Broadway show too.

Have a great Friday evening & I sure hope to be posting a little more often!

Supplies:
Paper: Night of Navy, White, K and Company DSP
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Cricut- Wedding solutions- couple and flourish, Nestabilities- Label 3, Bling- Studio 18
Size: 4X4

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

More Holiday Cards

I just love making holiday cards. Well, plain and simple, I just love the holiday season...shopping, baking, making special little gifts for the wonderful people in my life.
This first card is a total case from Ilina Crouse. You can see the original by Ilina here.



My second card was made for the SCS Sketch Challenge (SC254). I wish you could see the little twinkle on the image and the background paper. {My nighttime picture taking doesn't quite capture the pretty sparkle}. The papers are so pretty so I kept the central image fairly simple.

Have a wonderful day!!

Recipe Card #1:
Stamps: Holiday Silhouette (Inkadinkado), Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!)
Paper: Real Red, WW, DSP- Christmas Cocoa (SU!)
Ink: Real red (SU), Metalic Silver (Encore)
Accessories: Red satin ribbon (Michaels), Modern Label Punch

Recipe Card#2:
Stamps: Holiday Silhouette (Inkadinkado)
Paper: Riding Hood Red, ALways Artichoke, DSP- Wassail (Basic Grey)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, ALways artichoke (distressing)
Accessories: Red brads (Karen Foster), Red Stickles (Ranger), Crystal Glitter (Gary M. Burlin)

Triple Challenge Card with New SU! DSP

Hi friends! Busy week for me..how about you? And although the weekend will be busy, I am happy to be able to spend a little more time in the studio. I recieved my Stampin' Up shipment today with my demonstrator order from the Holiday mini catalog which will be released on September 1st. This DSP is called Autumn Meadows. Aside from this woodgrain, there are some gorgeous leaf patters, a houndstooth and more. I like this fall pattern with Taken with Teal; which is probably no surprise as I love blues... in any shade.

The DSP was augmented with a little watercoloring...just a little more teal in the corners. The actual DSP is distressed with mustard and teal already but I added just a bit more to even out the center band of teal. The rectangle started as very vanilla. The Fresh Cuts image was inked up with Chocolate chip. Then I used my aquapainter and grabbed some chocolate chip ink from the ink pad lid and brushed across the entire rectangle. {I usually just squeeze the top and bottom of the closed pad together and I get enough ink for watercoloring}. I added Taken with Teal and More Mustard in select areas in the same manner with the aqua painter. I covered the vanilla nestie scalloped circle with the aquapainter watercolored chocolate chip. While the nestie vanilla surface was still damp, the floral image in choc. chip and more mustard were added. I stamped, stamped off once and twice to get the different looking inked images.

The teal band is pleated and covered with a thin tan velvet ribbon that is stitched along the edges with a chocolate brown. I picked this ribbon up at Michael's. I really couldn't resist this ribbon although I have lots already. My justification was that could be used for masculine and fall cards.

Since I didn't have much time to participate in the SCS challenges this week, I combined three with this card. First the Sketch Challenge, the Ways to Use it challenge (use pleats) and the Inspiration Challenge. I chose this vase for the IC challenge.

I believe the rest is pretty much self-explanatory, so I'll sign off until sometime tomorrow. Have a great weekend, friends!

Triple Challenge

I combined three challenges for this card- the Splitcoaststampers (SCS) color challenge from Tuesday, the SCS sketch challenge from Wednesday, and today's challenge from The Digi Shack. The color challenge colors are Certainly Celery, Pixie Pink, Apricot Appeal and any neutral. The Digi Shack challenge is "Say it with Flowers" by using a digi flower image.

Look here to see all the creations from The Digi Shack's Design Team..my sister Maui-Wowies. :)

The image is called Bud Vase. I colored the flower with my SU! Pixie Pink marker; the dimension was added by applying more marker color along the flower lines and the small inside part of the flower. I also colored more heavily along the lines of the leaves. If the receiver looks real close, this will be obvious but when looking from a normal distance at the card, it looks natural and dimensional. I enjoy spending time coloring, but there are many occasions when I want a quick card and nothing beats this technique with markers especially the high quality of the SU! markers.

I did not add many embellishments so as not to detract from the image; and I hope to send it without extra postage. ;) I hope you like it.

Have a great Thursday!

Recipe:
Image: Bud Vase (The Digi Shack)
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Pixie Pink, Sahara Sand, WW, DSP- Apricot Apeal from 2007 prints pack (all SU!)
Ink: Markers- Apricot Appeal, Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue (SU!)
Accessories: Apricot Appeal brads (SU!)

Clean and Simple Challenge Card

Another quick note as I am still catching up from my little Florida jaunt.
This evening I made my very first 'clean and simple' (CAS) card for the Splitcoaststampers challenge. The challenge was a sketch challenge based upon a card by Krystie Lee.
My image is called 'Potted Plant' (The Digi Shack). I thought it was perfect for a CAS. I re-sized the image using Adobe Photoshop which maintains the proportion of the dimensions. Next I colored it using ink and blender pen & a little bit of marker on the pot. I added the ribbon and brad. I left off a sentiment so I could add something later- either get well, thinking of you, or sympathy. The card is 4 X 4.
This was definitely way outside my comfort zone. The card doesn't have multiple layers, designer paper, or distressing; and it has limited embellishments. It is so different from my typical style, I can't even evaluate if I like it. {don't get me wrong- I do love the digi image}.
But, trying new things is always fun for me even if I don't like the results. Another reason to love this art is that it is an adventure! Have a great Tuesday!

Recipe:
Stamps: Potted Plant (The Digi Shack)
Paper: WW, textured real red, black (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Old Olive
Accessories: Blender Pen, Black gingham ribbon (Offray), Red Velvet Brad (Creative Imaginations)