Hello {Loon}

I have a quick card to share with you.  It uses the current Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO348) and a new word die I recently purchased.  My husband just spent the last week in Ely, MN, on a fishing trip with our son and 4 other men.  It was on a family vacation in Ely where I first fell in love with loons.  They are so pretty in real life and I loved watching them on the lake.  When I found out that Kathryne at StampArt Design by Kathryne had 3 loon digis, I was so excited.  This card uses one of them, Sarah's Babies.  I inked the sky and water and used the negative of  a die cut to help make my clouds.  I wish I'd done a better job at the horizon line but....there's always next time.  The "hello" die was cut 4 times -- three times with white cardstock and once with the matching blue patterned paper.  The die cuts were adhered on top of each other to add dimension.  The the top was given a coat of glitter from a Wink of Stella clear brush glitter marker and then a coat of Glossy Accents.  A ribbon, button and baker's twine bow add more dimension and faux stitching finishes it off.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft)
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye (Miss Caroline - Dolled Up 6x6 pad)
Stamp:  StampArt Design by Kathryne (Sarah's Babies)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (Bliss Blue), Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (May Arts), baker's twine (The Twinery), button from stash, Sweet 'n Sassy Lacey Eyelet Border die, Lawn Fawn Lawn Cut (Hello), Glossy Accents, Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Zig Wink of Stella (clear)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday (MOJO348) - Sketch Challenge
Delightful Challenge - All Tied Up (Use ribbon, string or twine - I used ribbon and twine)
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #210 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #23 - Use Patterned Paper
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #21 - Anything Goes Using Digi Stamps
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes


Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy First Mother's Day

This card is obviously designed for a brand new mom.  I wanted to make it very girly so I kept it pink and white.  I included the feminine touches of  a doily, pearls, scallops and ribbon.  The sentiment was computer generated.

I used this adorable Sweetie Bear from StampArt Design by Kathryne.  I colored the bear with Copics.  The bows were paper pieced and have tiny pearl centers. She was fussy cut and her nose and dress were accented with a white gel pen. She was adhered with pop dots to the card front.  Faux stitching finishes off the edges of the card and background paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (pink), Georgia Pacific (white), Neenah Solar White (image)
Patterned Paper:  American Crafts
Stamps:  StampArt Design by Kathryne (Sweetie Bear), computer generated sentiment
Copics:  R81, 83, 85; E29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40
Tools/ Embellishments:  Uniball Signo White gel pen, pearls/flourish (The Paper Studio), ribbon (American Crafts), Spellbinders dies (Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Cheery Lynn die (French Pastry), Staedtler black fine tip marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Digi Haven - Bear Hugs 
Divas by Design - In the Pink
Inky Impressions Challenge #158 - Mother's Day
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #194- For a Special Lady
Sweet Stamps Challenge #168 - For Mom
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Mother's Day/For a Girl
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #34 - Flourishes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes

I hope the rest of your week goes well.  Thanks for visiting today.

Welcome Little Girl

I needed another baby card for a sweet little girl.  I used one of my new favorite teddy bear images, Baby Bear's Butterfly, from StampArt Design.  This is the bonus file that comes with the digi stamp (2 for the price of one!).

I used this week's sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches (#212).  I mirror imaged the sketch to accommodate the direction Teddy is facing.  Teddy is colored with copics, fussy cut and popped up on an embossed piece of cardstock.  I used lots of faux stitching on this card.  I was able to use lots of scraps as well.  The patterned paper, pink cardstock, white square and kraft banner are from scraps.

Paper Saving Tip:  One of my favorite ways to stretch my paper is to die cut smaller mats out of the larger ones.  For instance, the pink cardstock that is matting the banner is cut from the middle of the mat that is on top of the card base.  Since the larger mat has gingham paper (and other layers) on top of it, you can't tell that part of it was cut away.  

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (pink), Stampin' Up (kraft)
Patterned paper:  Frances Meyer
Stamps:   StampArt Design (Baby Bear's Butterfly), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Baby Blessings)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic Markers, Sharpie fine point pen (brown), Uni-Ball Signo pen (white), ribbon (Offray), twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon), buttons from stash, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dot), Spellbinders (Classic Squares Large & Small, Circles Large & Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches (#212) - sketch
Crafty Ribbons #57- Use 3 of something (I have 3 buttons and 3 colors)
2 Sisters Challenge #157 - Use Pink, White & Kraft
Really Reasonable Ribbon #78 - Use pink & brown
Make It Monday #154 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #161 - Use scraps
Top Tip Tuesday #108 - Use at least 2 things that start with your initial(s) (I used stitching, spellbinders, squares & white)
Cute Card Thursday #282 - Use Buttons
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Use Scraps
Aud Sentiments Challenge #87 - Anything but a birthday card

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to come back tomorrow when I'll have a card to show you for the new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

For the Man I Love

For my husband's birthday, I wanted to make him a special card.  He's a big supporter of my card-making and even helps give some design advice.  Did I mention he's a patient man?  LOL  This year, I decided to make him a Never Ending Card.  They are definitely easier to make than they look and I will definitely be making more.  There are lots of great tutorials on YouTube.  My card is 6" square.  I tweaked the directions I found a bit to make it work better for me and this is my final result.

This is the card front.  I used two digis from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for the focal points and some die cuts for the accents.  One thing that made decorating the card challenges is that I had to make sure things were pretty flat so that it would fold properly.  I added lots of faux stitching throughout the whole card to help things look a little more finished.

This is the 2nd "page."  I used Echo Park's Times and Seasons collection for the card and used several of their stickers.

For the 3 page, I wrote several memories of his past birthdays.  I've blurred out the writing to spare you mushiness.

For the last page, I included more stickers, a digi stamps (top left & bottom right corners) and two proverbs from a box of proverb cards I've had for years.  I included a note on each to personalize it a bit more.  I also have a block where I wrote my birthday message to him.  Again I removed it for you.  :)  I'm note sure what happened in the picture but the polka dot trim at the top of the journaling block matches what was used on pages 2-3.

Here's a short video of how the card works.  Surprisingly, there was no feline assistance. 




Supplies:
Cardstock, Recollections
Patterned Paper & stickers:  Echo Park (Times & Seasons)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Masculine Birthday, Sentiments for Him), StampArt Design by Kathryne (Love to Think of You)
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Journal Writer (Close to Cocoa), Uni-Ball white pen, Spellbinders {Photo Corners (hearts), Classic Squares Large & Small, Proverbs to Go by K & Company

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges- Celebrate (Birthday or other celebration)
Craft Your Passion #172 - Happy Birthday
Paper Pretties Wed. Challenge #267 (PPWC267) - Sentiment as the focal point
4 Crafty Chicks Challenges #151 - Let's Hear It For the Boys (masculine card)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll come back soon.

You Are My Sunshine

I have had this kitty digi for awhile but have never colored him.  Tonight was the night.  I also got brave and decided to try masking the image to sponge clouds in the background.  It was a lot easier than I thought and I like how it turned out.  I will definitely be trying this technique again.  After I finished coloring and sponging, I die cut the image and a mat with spellbinders.

The sun was colored with copics and then fussy cut.  I added SU Crystal Effects to his shades.  He is popped up over the image panel.  The yellow background layer is embossed with an M'Bossabilities embossing folder.  I used PSE to alter the sentiment to make it fit on one line.  Some faux stitching completes the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Xpress-it (image panel), Georgia Pacific (cardbase, sun, sentiment), DCWV (yellow, blue)
Patterned Paper:  Unknown
Digi Stamps: Hambo (Cool Cat), StampArt Designs by Kathryne (Love to Think of You set), Daydream Designs (Sunshine and Rain set)
Ink: Memento (Summer Sky)
Copics: Sun (Y000, 11, 13, 15, 17; YR21; R22, 27; B000, 21, 23)  Cool Cat (B000, 21, 23, 26; BG01, 10; N5, 7; V04, 06, 09; R20, 22, 24, 27, 81, 83, 85; Y000, 11, 13, 15, 17; YR07, 20, 21; G14; YG03, 05)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Classic Squares Large and Small, M'Bossabilities Splendid side B), SU Crystal Effects, Uni-Ball White Opaque Pen, SU Stampin' Write marker (Night of Navy)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
MOJO Monday (MOJO302) - Sketch
SNSS July Release Challenge #1 - Use a sun or the color yellow
Pile It On Challenge #28 - Water
Tuesday Throwdown #156 - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas #13 - Summer Fun
Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge #108 - Summer Fun
Cuttlebug Mania - Fun in the Sun
Southern Girls Challenge #73 - No Spoolin' (can't use anything that comes on a spool)
Milk Coffee Challenge - Emboss It (heat or dry)
Scrapper's Delights Challenge #3 - Summer Brights
Inky Impressions Challenge #117 - Summer
LEJ Designs Challenge #62 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. 

For This Child I Prayed

We know several couples who have had or soon will be having little baby girls.  I made a card for one of them tonight.  I wish all cards went together this easily.  :)

I adhered the gingham paper to the white panel (round the opposite corners first).  Then I used an oval die to cut a "window" in it.  I used the same die to cut out the middle of a floral oval die cut.  I used this die one more time with a scalloped oval to finish the frame.  After assembling the frame, I adhered it to the gingham panel.  The Scripture was attached behind the panel with pop dots, then the entire panel was adhered to the card base with more pop dots.

The little bear was colored with Copics and fussy cut.  The flower got a pearl center and the butterfly was accented with stickles.  Crystal Effects was used on the bear's nose.  The bear was attached to the card front with pop dots.

The frame was accented with pink bling and pearls. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Express-it (image)
Patterned Paper:  Frances Meyer (gingham), American Crafts (solid pink)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Scripture), StampArt Design by Kathryne (Baby Bear's Butterfly - bonus image)
Copics:  E11, 25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37; R81, 83, 85; Y11, 13, 15, 17, YG03, 05; BG10
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large, Floral Ovals), pearls (Stampin' Up, Oriental Trading), rhinestones (Recollections), SU Crystal Effects, Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #161 - All Things Digital (both the bear and the Scripture are digi stamps)
Pile It On #26 - Bling
Catered Crop - Die Cuts/Punches
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Theme:  Make Someone's Day, Stash:  Sparkly
Inky Chicks #7 - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenge - Use a Critter
Divas by Design - Cute

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you're having a good start to your weekend.

Welcome Little One

As you have probably heard by now, Google Reader will be shut down as of July 1st.  If you follow/read my blog via Google Reader, I'd like to encourage you to follow me via Bloglovin'. There is a button on my sidebar that makes getting to the site quite easy.  One you sign up for Bloglovin', you'll be able to switch all your current Google Reader Blogs over to Bloglovin' in a few simple steps.

Recently I was privileged to win some digis by StampArt Design by Kathryne.  She has so many adorable designs that it was hard to choose.  Be sure to check out her stamps at the link above and also her page on Facebook.  Each week she offers free Scripture digis on Mondays and other free digis on Tuesday.  Did I mention yet that she's very generous?

One of my choices was the adorable Sweetie Bear.  Sweetie comes with two bonus files and my card today actually uses one of them.  I colored Sweetie with Copics and added some opaque white pen stitching along the edges of her hem, sleeves and bodice.  I gave her a little sparkle with some stickles on the heart on her dress and a tiny pearl center for her bow.

I used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS216) for my card design.  The ribbon I used has a little sparkle in it and I couldn't resist adding 3 more little pearls as an accent.  And, like I do on so many cards, I finished things off with some faux stitching.  The sentiment is part of Sweet 'n Sassy's Baby Blessings Digital stamp set.  I liked this easy-to-follow sketch and kept things pretty simple (for me anyway :) ).

Supplies:
Cardstock - Express-it (image and sentiment panels), Georgia Pacific (card base)
Patterned paper - American Crafts (The Goods - Booties), Frances Meyer, The Paper Studio
Stamps - StampArt Design by Kathryne (Sweetie Bear - bonus image), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Baby Blessing Digi set)
Copics - E11, 31, 33, 35, 50; W-1; C0; C-1; R81, 83, 85; Colorless Blender
Embellishments/Tools - SU tag punch, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), SU pearls, The Twinery baker's twine, Uni-Ball Signo White pen, Stickles (Star Dust), Sakura Glaze Pen (on  Sweetie's nose), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (pink), button and ribbon from my stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Stop Sketch #216 - sketch
Cupcake Craft - No flowers
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #212 - Recipe (Use Sentiment, Image, Pearls or Rhinestones and a Ribbon)
V's Sweet Challenge #12 - Baby Theme
Craft Lovin' Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

I hope you have a good day.  Please stop back by tomorrow when I'll have a new card for WordArt Wednesday.