Happy Birthday

  Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week is a fan favorite: Anything Goes!!

And here is the card I created:

I started by heat embossing the "Flower Power Background" stamp with white embossing powder on a sheet of white card stock.  Then I used a blender brush to blend Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide inks onto the panel.  I really loved the Cracked Pistachio in the center, but unfortunately, it got mostly covered up by the center elements.  For some subtle shimmer and shine, I spritzed on a glimmer spray from Hero Arts which you can see a little bit in the photo below:

I had thought I would cut the panel in half and be able to use it on two cards, but once I made the cut, I saw that half the panel wasn't enough to be able to see how pretty it is.  So, I pieced it back together and covered the join with a bit of ribbon (left over from another project) and a border die.  Now, no one will ever know!  To keep from covering the panel too much, I die cut a rectangle out of vellum; it gives a grounding place for the sentiment circle, but also allows some of the background to show through.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Flower Power Background" and "Happy Birthday"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle (main panel); Spellbinders "A2 Matting Bascis A" rectangle, "Classic Circles, large" and "Scalloped Circles, large"; Altenew border die

Challenges:

Dies R Us #167--anything goes using dies from brands DRU sells (I used Spellbinders)

Sweet Stampers #55--lots of layers

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #156--anything goes

Incy Wincy--colors of Spring And/Or Embossing (I used embossing)

Double Trouble #82--Flowers (Thing #1--include flowers on your card)

Mojo Monday #558--sketch

Mod Squad--flowers

Creative Moments #213--anything goes

Aud Sentiments #273--Birthday sentiment

Krafty Chicks #556--all occasions

Cardz TV #135--anything goes

Birthday Fishes

 Oh, my goodness, I just LOVE this adorable Birdie Brown "Friends with Fins" set from My Favorite Things!!!  The little sea creatures are just too cute!

This scene is super fun and cute by itself, but I used the Launch Party DieNamics to add a fun leaping dolphin to the mix:

When you pull the pull tab, he pops up to bring smiles and birthday wishes.  Oh, so fun!!

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Friends with Fins"; YNS "Sea Creatures Sentiments"

Dies: MFT "Under the Sea", "Ocean Motion", "Launch Party"; Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large"; Paper Smooches "Cute Clouds"

Taylored Expressions "Set The Scene: Clouds" stencil

Challenges:

Pattie's Creations #181--birthdays

Creative Craft Cottage #39--include an animal

Stay Crafty with Hero Arts #22--birthday

Creative Fingers #206--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #156--anything goes

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

MFT Sketch #538--sketch (I turned it on its side)

Aud Sentiments Challenge #273--birthday sentiment

Krafty Chicks #556--all occasions (birthday)

Gradient Hello

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps.  This week is a fun theme: Let the Sentiment be the Highlight (or the focus of your card).

And here is the card I created:

For my mother's birthday this past weekend, I made this card.  I loved the colors I used for the flowers and the paper was still on my desk, so I decided to use them again to create my card for this challenge.  I created an ombre effect on the large sentiment using my mini MISTI which made it really easy!  I started out by stamping it with the lightest color of ink, then moved on to the medium shade.  I inked about 2/3 of the word with the medium ink and then softened the edge with a cloth.  For the darkest shade along the bottom, I used the darkest ink and inked up only the lowest 1/3 of the word again softening the edge with the cloth.  Such a pretty color mix!  Then I stamped the smaller sentiment overlapping slightly with black ink.  I stamped several times to get a nice, dark impression.  I used the same technique on the flowers--getting darker toward the center.  I added a thin, gold border to the top and bottom of the sentiment panel and used a gold paint pen to add gold dots to the centers of the flowers.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you head on over to The House blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with this photo.  And if you "need" any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your entire order coupon code over in my lift sidebar.

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Hello Cling Set" both words, "Daisy Solid, large", "Daisy Solid, small", "Leaf Outline, small" and "Leaf Outline, large"

Challenges:

Dare 2 B Artzy--bright colors

Kat Scrappiness--flowers

Crafty Creations #420--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #263--flowers

Cardz TV #138--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #494--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Creative Fingers #206--anything goes

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #401--anything goes with snippets (the paper was left over from the previous card--plus it had already been a leftover piece--the sentiment panel was a scrap and the flowers and leaves were all stamped and cut from scraps)

Someone very special

 My mom's birthday was today; this is the card I made for her.  Red is her favorite color so of course, I had to stamp some red(ish) flowers and add some red ribbon.

I made a fun gate fold card/gift card holder:

I die cut slots to hold the gift card, and then stamped the sentiment so it would be hidden until the gift card is removed.  Now you see it . . .

 . . . now you don't!

Supplies:

Stamps: Altenew "Flower Arrangement"; Verve "Better Together" sentiment; Mama Elephant "Inside Birthday Sentiments"

Dies: Altenew "Flower Arrangement" and "Crystal Frames"; Papertrey Ink "Filigree" border die

Challenges:

Atlantic Sketch Challenge #416--sketch

Scor-pal #80--anything goes with the optional twist: April showers or Fool us!  (I just went with the anything goes option)

Kat Scrappiness--flowers

Crafty Creations #420--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #263--flowers

Creative Moments #212--anything goes

Aud Sentiments #272--anything goes

Cardz TV #138--anything goes

Cuttlebug Mania--gift card holder

Try Stampin' on Tuesday #502--more than one fold

Stay Crafty with Hero Arts #22--birthday

Did Someone Say Cake?

 It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Animals Acting Like Humans
And here is my card for your inspiration:

Aren't these little guys so adorable??!!  And who can refuse a yummy looking cupcake like this?  The card is actually a 5x7 size which is much larger than I usually make.  I printed out the image quite large intending to make a very CAS card, but then decided I wanted a little more interest so I had to go bigger.  Unfortunately, the image is so large it covers up most of the fun chevron paper I used in the background.  But, its so cute, it really doesn't matter!

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stamps: Di's Digi Stamps "Teds Cupcake Party" digi; MFT "Delicious Birthday" sentiment

Dies: Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle

Challenges:

Unicorn Challenge #64--include an animal

Cards Galore #86--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #181--birthdays

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Sheepski Designs #49--animal magic

Creative Craft Cottage #39--include an animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

Moving Along with the Times--animals/birds

Incy Wincy Designs--Borders and/or bright colors

Aud Sentiments #272--anything goes

Cardz TV #138--anything goes

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #494--anything goes

Cute Card Thursday #682--ribbon/twine

Stay Crafty with Hero Arts #22--birthday

10 Day Coloring Challenge--just color

With Sympathy

About a month ago, I received this gorgeous set from Altenew: "Rosy Lookout"!  It is a fabulous layering stamp set.  I mean, look at them!  They don't even looked stamped.  I had a chance to play with it and stamped multiples of almost all the images.  It was really easy using my mini MISTI.  I created another card with the other images; you can see it here.  For this card, I was in need of a sympathy card, as you can see.

 I heat embossed the frame with gold embossing powder and then stamped the sentiment with black ink.  The matching die made it quick and easy.  A little bit of dotted ribbon and some gold Nuvo drops finished everything off.  You can see the shine from the embossed image in the photo below.

The embossing really adds just the right amount of elegance.  And every sympathy card needs some elegance.

Supplies:

Stamps: Altenew "Rosy Lookout"; PaperTrey Ink "Boutique Borders: Sympathy"

Dies: Altenew "Rosy Lookout"; PaperTrey Ink "Boutique Borders: Sympathy"

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #57--anything goes

Kat Scrappiness--flowers

Crafty Creations #420--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #155--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #264--flowers

Creative Moments #212--anything goes

As You Like It--Favorite: stenciling or embossing (I am starting to enjoy stenciling, but I don't do a lot of it.  I LOVE both heat and dry embossing!!  I love watching the powder change as it melts and creates something amazing!!)

Fab n Funky Challenge #519--embossing, wet or dry

Word Art Wednesday--anything goes

Crafty Catz #517--anything goes with the optional twist: embossing, wet or dry

Happy Spring!

 Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week the challenge is: Spring Has Sprung.  And here is the card I created for your inspiration:

I stamped, colored and fussy cut the bunny image then adhered it to the main panel and then adhered a die cut grass strip to the bottom of the panel after tying some twine around it.  I lined up the letter dies for the word "spring" using a grid mat and a strip of washi tape to hold them in place and then to transfer them to the sheet of patterned paper.  That way they come out perfectly spaced and in a straight line.  I added a strip of acetate (recycled from a stamp set packaging) behind the die cut letters and created a shaker element.  I finished it off with a die cut "happy" and some sprinkled sequins.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Clover Bunny"

Dies: MFT "Happy Trio" and "Stitched Alphabet"; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps grass border

Challenges:

Your Next Stamp #161--Sunshine & Smiles (My little bunny is smiling and I'm sure he will bring smiles to the recipient!)

Unicorn Challenge #64--include an animal

Cards Galore #86--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #57--anything goes

Crafty Calendar--spring or Easter

Sheepski Designs #49--animal magic

Stinkin Inkers--recycle/reuse (I recycled some stamp packaging to create the shaker window)

We Love Chocolate Baroque--springtime

Creative Craft Cottage #39--include an animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes

Paper Funday #28--anything goes with the optional twist: spring has sprung

Moving Along with the Times--animals/birds

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #155--anything goes

Creative Moments #212--anything goes

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2--sketch

{Pin}spirational Challenge #276--inspiration photo (I was inspired by the bunnies and the pink)

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #155--inspiration photo ( was inspired by the white bunnies, the pink and the dots)

50th Birthday

 What do you do when your friend is turning 50?  Well, obviously create a fabulous, sparkly, 50th Birthday card!!

A few weeks ago, I received this beautiful layering set by Altenew: "Rosy Lookout" and I decided this was the perfect time to play with it.  I used my mini MISTI and I'm so glad I did because I ended up stamping most layers twice to get a nice, dark stamping.  While I was stamping, I decided to create 4 of everything as it is easy enough to do when using a MISTI.  The large rose has 4 layers, the larger bud has 4 flower layers and three leaf layers and the smaller bud has 2 flower layers plus 3 leafy layers.  The leaves each have 3 layers.  Getting them lined up perfectly is a little tricky, but fortunately, it does matter if it isn't 100% perfect; no one will notice.  I ended up using about half of the stamped and die cut images and saved the other half for a card I will be sharing later this week.  I had this really fun idea of die cutting the sentiment out of the top layer which allows the patterned paper to show through.  I used a piece of washi tape laid out on a grid mat to get the letters straight and perfectly aligned.  Then I was able to transfer all the letters (still attached to the strip of washi) directly to my die cut panel and have them all exactly in the right place!  I used this same technique in this card.  I die cut the word "happy" from dark brown card stock and the "50" from some gold glitter paper and adhered them both above the "birthday" cut out.  I stamped the "th" in dark brown ink to finish the sentiment.  The, I adhered a bit of acetate, recycled from some stamp packaging, to the back of the "birthday" cut out to create a shaker element.  I finished the card off with some small white pearls.

Supplies:

Stamps: Altenew "Rosy Lookout"; PaperTrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes" 'th'

Dies: Altenew" Rosy Lookout"; Kat Scrappiness "Distressed Edge" nesting slimline die; MFT "Happy Trio" and "Stitched Alphabet"; PaperTrey Ink number border die

Challenges:

Sunday Stamps #254--Go Slim and sketch

Kat Scrappiness--flowers

Pixie's Crafty Workshop #400--anything goes with snippets (All of my flower/leaf pieces were stamped and die cut from scrap white card stock and the "50" was die cut from a scrap)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--happy birthday

Creative Knockouts #396--for the girls

Anniversary Pups

 Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge from The House That Stamps Built and this week it is Anniversary.  Create any project with an anniversary theme.  Here is the card I created for your inspiration:

My sister and brother-in-law have the next anniversary coming up, so I decided to make a card for them.  They are dog people and have a black Border Collie/Lab mix, so I colored these sweet little pups up in black.  They aren't as hairy as my sister's dog (she definitely has the Border Collie hair!) but they are black, so it will work.  The pup on the right is how the image actually stamps.  For the pup on the left, I did the mirror stamping technique so I could have them "facing" each other.  They are really so cute and playful!  I added a few die cut hearts that were in my bits and pieces stash.  They finish it off perfectly!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you will hop over to the House blog to see the rest of the DT's creations and then get inky and play along with us.  And if you need any of the stamps I used, check out my 10% off your ENTIRE order coupon code over in my left sidebar.

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Wagging Pup" and "Happy Anniversary"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched banner; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" hearts

Challenges:

Aud Sentiments #271--animals

Alphabet Challenge--Z is for Zoology

Krafty Chicks #553--stamp act

Creative Fingers Challenge #205--anything goes

Unicorn Challenge #64--include an animal

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Sheepski Designs #49--animal magic

2 Crafty Critter Crazies--anything goes

Dare 2 B Artzy--bright colors

Moving Along with the Times--animals/birds

Little Patch of Crafty Friends #155--anything goes

Sketch Saturday #654--sketch

21

 One of the young men at our church just turned 21.  Oh, to be 21 again!  I'm going to be double that this year; yikes!  Anyway, I made this card to celebrate him.  It all began with the turquoise stars.  I had several of them left over from a baby shower and have been trying to use them--masculine cards are perfect!  I used black for some bold accents and black glitter paper for the focal point.

In the photo below, you can see all that lovely sparkle!

Supplies:

Dies: PaperTrey Ink "By the Numbers"; Sizzix/Stephanie Bernard "Framelets Flip-Its--Stars"

Challenges:

Double Trouble #81--Something, Anything, Everything (Thing #1: anything goes)

Try Stampin' On Tuesday #500--sketch

Penny's Challenge #493--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Mod Squad Challenge--use a number

Little Red Wagon #595--Happy Birthday

Cute Card Thursday #680--anything goes

Creative Fingers #205--anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Love To Craft Challenge Blog #57--anything goes

You Rock!

 It's Saturday!!  That means it's time for another challenge from Di's Digi Designs.

The challenge this time is: Make It Monochrome
And here is my card for your inspiration:

I created a fun flip card to celebrate a young man's 13th birthday.  It's funny, I have a hard time mixing colors, but I also struggle with monochromatic color schemes!  You would think that would be easy!  The color was inspired by the turquoise star in the center of the flip element.  I had several of them left over from a baby shower, so I've been trying to use them up on masculine cards.  

I colored up this little cutie, "MP3 Mike" with my Spectrum Noir markers.  He is just perfect for masculine cards, specially teen cards.  With this flip card layout, there really isn't a place for a sentiment on the inside, but I did use a word die from the same set to add a sentiment on the reverse side of the star element.  I also added two strips of stars for a bit of interest on the inside.

On the back, I add a place for another sentiment and a spot for writing a little note.

I hope you will get a chance to play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.  And make sure you hop over to the Di's Digital Designs blog to see what the rest of the team has made for this challenge.

Supplies: 

Stamps: Di's Digi Stamps "MP3 Mike" digi; Papertrey Ink "Big Birthday Wishes" sentiment

Dies: Sizzix/Stephanie Bernard Framelits Flip-its "Stars"; PaperTrey Ink Numbers border

Challenges:

Cardz TV #13--anything goes

A Gem of A Challenge--anything goes

Double Trouble #81--Something, Anything, Everything (Thing #1: anything goes, Thing #3: color-with my Spectrum Noir Markers)

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #493--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Mod Squad--use a number

Little Red Wagon #595--Happy Birthday 

Cute Card Thursday #680--anything goes

Creative Fingers Challenge #205--anything goes

Cards Galore #86--anything goes

Pattie's Creations #181--birthdays

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

New Beginnings

 A new month has arrived and that means a new challenge from the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog.  This month's challenge is Spring Forward.

And here is the card I created:

(At least here in northern USA)  Flowers are what spring is all about!!  When those little crocuses and daffodils start popping out, you know Spring has finally arrived!  Spring also signifies renewal/new beginnings which is really what this card is all about.  It is for a close family friend to celebrate her retirement after 35 years at the same job!  Retirement is the end of your working career, but the beginning of the rest of your life.  This one was pretty quick an easy.  I stamped and colored the flowers with my Spectrum Noir pens and then die cut the panel first with a stitched rectangle and then with the scalloped boarder die.  Layered that over a scrap of patterned paper, heat embossed the sentiment with white on navy and finished everything off with some clear droplets from Kat Scrappiness.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Head on over to the LTSCB blog to see what the rest of the team has created and to get the full details of the challenge.  Then get inky and play along with us; I can't wait to see what you create.

Supplies: 

Stamps: MFT Stamps "Flowers in Bloom"; Sugar Pea Designs retirement set (It seems to be discontinued)

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 25" stitched rectangle and scalloped border die

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #154--anything goes

Cardz TV #137--anything goes

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Crafty Sentiments--anything goes

Penny's Challenge #493--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #485--anything goes with uplifting sentiment