Backyard Summer Fun

 Happy Hump Day folks,

I'm still working through all of my logins to update them to my new email. What a chore! I think I'm almost to the end now, thankfully.

I took a break from that last night and made my card for Claire's theme challenge for the Paper Players.  The theme is Summer Fun. As with most of us, I have many stamps that would work. Because I think the sentiment for this Avery Elle mini set is so perfect, I decided on it. If you go to the beach, it's spot on!

To make this backyard pool scene, I combined the stamp set with some Lawn Fawn and MFT dies. The background cobblestone stencil is from GKD and the pool water is done by ink blending a couple shades of blue ink on white card stock, then running it through a Spellbinders embossing folder.

Avery Elle has a few stamp sets with the same critters and I used one for the inside of my card. Looks like the bunny is off to do some surfing for more Summer Fun.

Have a great rest of the week and thanks for looking in,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Sun's Out and Stay Cool stamp sets by Avery Elle

Paper: Concord & 9th card stock

Ink: Gina K Designs Black Onyx & Red Hot, Concord & 9th Cobblestone, Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Royal and Cadette blue, Copic Markers

Other: Lawn Fawn Palm Trees and Stitched Pool dies, MFT speech bubble die, Spellbinders Embossing Folder, Nuvo glitter drops, Connect glue, SU dimensionals

Stay Cool!

 Hello peeps,

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I spent most of Saturday sewing some face masks for a friend who asked me to make her some more. We are all vaccinated, but think we will feel comfortable with face masks in crowds through the summer. Today, I set the sewing machine aside and did some stamping.

As Sunday's bring us the new Paper Players Challenge, I like to see what the ladies have cooked up for us. This week, Joanne is our hostess with a fun "card for boys" challenge, and indeed, I had loads of fun crafting this card.

This stamp set by Avery Elle is called Stay Cool, and it's perfect for boy's cards. Today, I made a fun fold card with a belly band. The card is the "mini" slimline size, 6 inches by 3.5 inches. The patterned papers are older SU called Bubbles and Fizz.

For the focal image on the belly band, I stamped the skateboarding bear with Memento tuxedo black and colored him with Copics, then cut the image out with the corresponding die. The circle of stars die is also from Avery Elle and I cut it twice. Once in white card stock and once with holographic card stock. On the white one, I colored the starts with Copics to co-ordinate with the stripes in the patterned paper. I used some foam squares to pop the bear over the star circle cutouts, then used some orange Stickles on the wheels and some Stardust Stickles on the board. I also added some Glossy Accents over his sunglasses. The rectangle base is cut from Gina K Designs stitched rectangles.

Here's the inside of the card, which uses another of the animal images from the set.

I hope you all have a great week! Thanks for checking in,

Colleen

Supplies

Taylored Expressions Lime Green card stock, SU Bermuda Bay card stock, Gina K Designs heavy weight white card stock, SU Bubbles and Fizz DSP, Avery Elle Stay Cool stamp set and dies, Avery Elle Circle of Stars die, Gina K Designs Single and Double Stitched rectangle dies, Memento Tuxedo Black, GKD Stormy Skies, SU Bermuda Bay and Lemon Lime Twist inks, Copic markers, Stickles, Glossy Accents, Misti, Gemini Jr, Foam tape and foam squares

Go Hog Wild

Hey all,

I hope everyone is doing well.

I have a new post today for this week's Paper Players Challenge. This week the Joanne has one of my favorite challenges, Tic-Tac-Toe. I love playing along with these. I used a fairly new stamps set called Sweet Swines from Avery Elle to make my card following the center horizontal option of die cut, spring, birthday. I decided to create a little scene with lots of dies.

There is a little of everything happening on my card. Stamping, stenciling, ink blending, die cutting and coloring. I certainly had fun with it. What a cute stamp set this is!

Here is the inside of the card.

Enjoy your Friday, and thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Sweet Swines set by Avery Elle
Paper: SU Whisper White, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Soft Sky, Call Me Clover, Granite Gray and Copics
Other: MFT brick stencil, MFT Fence die, Taylored Expressions grass die, Avery Elle cloud and flower dies, Sweet Swines dies, Dimensionals, Misti, Gemini Jr, TE blending brushes, Wink of Stella, Glossy Accents

Hugs and Kisses

Hello stampers,

Happy Monday evening. While watching some late evening Australian Tennis, I put together this card using the current CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge. This is quite the interesting sketch this week, and I had to think about how to use this sketch for a bit. Here's what I came up with.

The colors are Real Red, Flirty Flamingo and Whisper White. Using a MFT Falling Heart Stencil, Flirty Flamingo ink,  and a blending brush, I made a panel of hearts. I then cut five 1/4" strips diagonally from it and glued them onto a panel of Flirty Flamingo card stock per the sketch. The lace and stitched heart dies are Lawn Fawn cut from Real Red and Whisper White card stock. The Hugs die is Avery Elle. The bottom is Real Red, then 3 layers cut from white and the top is cut from Flirty Flamingo. All are glued together then glued onto the hearts. I added a few enamel dots that match pretty well for embellishments, as well as a layer of clear glitter from a Nuvo glitter pen over the Hugs die.

For the inside, I used another piece of the stenciled hearts panel and sentiments from the Avery Elle Hugs stamp set. The Happy Valentine's Day stamp is by Lawn Fawn.

Yay, another Valentine's Day card made. Thanks for looking,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Simply Said Hugs set by Avery Elle and Conversation Hearts Add-On set by Lawn Fawn
Paper: SU Real Red, Flirty Flamingo and Whisper White card stocks
Ink: SU Real Red and Flirty Flamingo
Other: Simply Said Hugs dies, Lawn Fawn Hearts dies, MFT Falling Hearts Stencil, TE blending brush, Gemini Jr., Misti, dimensionals, Nuvo clear glitter pen, enamel dots

Believe In the Magic

Hi to all,

I'm squeaking in my card for this week's Paper Player's Challenge, almost at the last minute because I've been working in Colorado since Monday. I got home late last evening and had a ton of work to complete during the day today, but I made time just before dinner to get a card made.

It's a great sketch challenge this week with Sandy as hostess. I pulled out some older holiday papers from SU and used a super cute set from Avery Elle to make my card.

I stamped this little snow fella using Memento tuxedo black ink and then using the masking technique, stamped the light post behind him. After coloring the images with Copics, they were cut out with a Die-namics Stitched Oval die. A few light blue enamel dots make up embellishments. (you know I have to, LOL.)

I added the third image from the set to make the inside of the card.

Quick and cute to go along with a great sketch from Sandy.

It's finally Friday tomorrow. I have my Craft group on Saturday, then back on the road for work Monday through Wednesday again. This time to San Francisco.

Wishing everyone a good Friday. Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Christmas Magic set by Avery Elle
Paper: SU Smoky Slate and X-Press It Blending card stocks, SU All Is Calm DSP
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Smoky Slate
Other: Die-namics Stitched Oval die, Gemini  Jr, enamel dots, dimensionals

Lunchbox Notes Challenge

Happy Friday to all,

Last Sunday when I saw Joanne's challenge for the Paper Players this week, I didn't think I would play along. I'm way past school lunches. But, I then thought of my friend's kids who are 8 and 11 yrs, so I texted their mom to see if they take lunches to school. The reply was yes, so I decided to play along and give these to my friend to put in their lunches.

However, the real challenge was getting them completed in time to post, which is why I'm kind of squeaking in at the last minute. I didn't get around to actually deciding on stamps and design until Monday afternoon, and then started stamping and die cutting. Next thing I know, Mr. Personal Chef comes into my craft room to say that we were hosting dinner Monday evening for a couple of our neighbors, so needless to say, that put a halt to my stamping. Tuesday morning, I had to head back to my work project in Palm Springs, but I knew I was coming back Thursday instead of Friday, which I did, and I was able to finish the note cards. Pictures were taken this morning, and here we are.

I made two of each design. The image on the left is the outside and the image on the right is the inside (obviously, LOL.) These are 4 x 4" square note cards.

Joanne, I enjoyed this fun and different challenge.

(click on images to make larger)

A quickly written post today, and now it's back to work reports. I'm looking forward to the weekend and not traveling this coming week.

Have a great day all and thanks,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Critters in the Jungle, Wild For You, Rawr, Duh-Nuh, Sweet Smiles, Ahoy Matey sets by Lawn Fawn and Sweetest set by Avery Elle
Paper: SU Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape, Barely Banana, Real Red, Marina Mist, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Pacific Point, Crumb Cake card stocks
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Gorgeous Grape, Real Red, Granite Gray, Only Orange, Pacific Point
Other: Lawn Fawn and Avery Elle corresponding set dies, Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Border die, Die-namics Stitched Hill, Pierced Circle, Stitched Square, Double-Stitched Square, Pinking Circle dies, SU Hexagon Die, Misti Stamping Tool, Gemini Jr, dimensionals, Nuvo glitter pen

Hope Your Birthday is the Sweetest

Hey and Happy Friday Peeps,

It's a very, very light work day for me, whoo-hoo! I've been doing some rearranging of my card stock storage and a few other supplies and doing some general craft room pickup. Now that is done and I can actually do some stamping.

First, I wanted to get this card posted. I made it last night after dinner. It's a birthday card as I have several friends with birthday's this month. The sketch is this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! and the new Seize the Birthday topping is sequins, and this card fits perfectly.

This is a pretty simple card. The card base and layer are Neenah Desert Storm. The top layer is embossed with a TE Burlap embossing folder. The stamps are from Avery Elle, one of the newest sets. The ice cream cone is stamped on X-Press It Blending card stock with Memento black and colored with Copics. The pink element is X-Press It Blending card with Distress Oxide pink ink blended on it using a blender tool. After it was dry, the sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped using memento black ink. After popping the ice cream cone on the card I used some Expresso dimensional paint for the chocolate sauce. Finally, the pink sequins were added for embellishment.

Here is the inside:

Images are also from the new set. The sentiment is from another Avery Elle birthday set.

I hope you have a great weekend. My craft group is getting together tomorrow. As usual, I'm bring supplies and card examples for them to work on. I usually cut all of the paper so they can concentrate on the stamping and creativity. It should be fun.

Thanks for stopping in. Stay cool everyone!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Sweetest  and Birthday  Bus sets by Avery Elle
Paper: Neenah Desert Storm and X-Press It Blending card stocks
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Distress Oxide, and Copics
Other: Sweetest Element dies, Taylored Expressions Burlap embossing folder, Die-namics Fishtail Flag die, ink blending tool, Gemini Jr, Express Dimensional paint, sequins, SU dimensionals

Let's Celebrate

Happy Monday, Peeps!

While I'm waiting for an early conference call to start this morning, I thought I'd post my Paper Players Celebration themed card. First though, a BIG CONGRATS to all the ladies at the Paper Players blog as this is their 400th challenge. Jaydee is the hostess and she has picked Celebration as the theme.

Since this is the first week of July, I choose to celebrate July 4th. I'm using this week's Freshly Made Sketch for the layout.

The card base is Neenah Desert Storm card stock and the patterned papers are from my stash of holiday papers. I think they came with a Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kit years ago, but I have no idea of which company. I used a SU punch to punch out the banner flags. The background is done with a SU star embossing folder. The sentiment comes from Avery Elle.

For the inside, I used an older SU stamp set.

Again, congratulations to the Paper Players team. I look forward to the new challenges each Sunday. One of the things that I love about this challenge is the rotating themes each week. It gives us a chance to do different kinds of challenges.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday week, and thanks for looking in.
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Bunting set by Avery Elle and July Fourth by Stampin' Up
Paper: Neenah Desert Story and SU Night of Navy card stock, patriotic themed pattern papers
Ink: SU Night of Navy and Riding Hood Red
Other: SU Stars embossing folder, SU banner punch, enamel stars, yellow rhinestones, Mini Misti, Gemini Jr, fun foam, dimensionals

Mahalo

Hello to all,

I did get to craft away most of the afternoon yesterday, as planned. Here's a card that I made using this week's CAS(E) This Sketch layout. I paired some SU DSP with a stamp set from Avery Elle called Aloha.

I rotated the sketch to the left to accommodate the pineapple paper piece that I wanted to use.  The striped paper is the reverse side of the pineapples, which worked out nicely. The images are stamped on X-Press It Blending card stock with Memento tuxedo black ink and colored with Copics. They are cut out using the corresponding set dies. The sentiment banner is cut from another piece of the DSP using a Die-namics banner die. I'm also posting this card to Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge. I think it's on Day 10. Unfortunately, I missed a couple days.

Hope your Sunday has been fun and relaxing. I'm finishing up some laundry and we are headed to friends for dinner late this afternoon.

Thanks for looking,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Aloha set by Avery Elle
Paper: SU Whisper White and X-Press It Blending card stock, SU Tutti-Fruiti DSP
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Soft Suede
Other: Avery Elle Aloha & Circle Elements dies, Die-namics Fishtail Flag Banner die, Gemini Jr, enamel circles, dimensinals, Misti

Have A Wonderful Day

Hi all,

Here's my colorful card for Day 5 of Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge. I used another relatively new stamp set from Avery Elle called Hummingbird. Who doesn't LOVE hummingbirds. We have a feeder just outside of our front door and the little ones are certainly entertaining.

The background is watercolored using various blue shaded Distress Inks. The stamped images are stamped onto X-Press It Blending card stock with Memento tuxedo black and colored with Copics.

The stitched scalloped frame is also from Avery Elle and the stamped images are cut out using the corresponding Elements dies.

Since I have many friends with birthdays this summer, I made this a birthday card with an appropriate sentiment on the inside.

A quick post tonight. Thanks for looking in!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Hummingbird set by Avery Elle and Wreath Builder set by Gina K.
Paper: SU Whisper White and Elegant Eggpland card stock, X-Press It Blending card stock, Strathmore water color paper
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, Tim Holtz Distress ink in shades of blue for the background
Other: Avery Elle elements Stitched Scalloped Rectangle die and Hummingbird dies, Gemini Jr, purple glass dots, dimensionals, paint brushes, heat tool

Life's A Beach

Hi and Happy Monday evening,

Ha ha, I made this card using the CAS Colors & Sketches Challenge #274 - The Double, not realizing that the collection had closed. Oh well. I can still count it as my Day 4 of Kathy's 30 Day Coloring Challenge at her Daily Marker blog.  So far, I've used Copics and water coloring. This card uses colored pencils.

I used Going Gray as the card base and small panel and Tangelo Twist card stock for the scallops and horizontal element. The front of the card base is dry embossed with the SU wood panel embossing folder. The stamp set is Avery Elle called Beside the Sea. The beach houses are stamped in Memento tuxedo black on SU Sahara Sand card stock, then colored with Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils matching the challenge colors of gold, orange and gray. The image is then cut out with the corresponding set die.

I turned this into a summer birthday card using a stamp from Gina K Designs.

Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Beside the Sea set by Avery Elle and Wreath Builder stamped set by Gina K.
Paper: SU Going Gray, Sahara Sand and Tangelo Twist card stock
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Tangelo Twist
Other: Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils, Die-namics tag die, Die-namics Pierced Fishtail Flag die (horizontal element), Avery Elle elements Beside the Sea dies, SU Embossing Folder, gray Baker's twine, SU gray candy dots, Gemini Jr, dimensionals

Sending Happy Thoughts

Hi again,
This is my second post today.

I made this card for Day 2 of The 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

The color inspiration comes from the current Fusion Card Challenge.  The stamp set is a relatively new one from Avery Elle called Fuchsia. I stamped the image three times on X-Press It Blending card stock with Memento tuxedo black ink, then colored them with coral and pink shades of  Copics. They were then cut out using the corresponding die. The card base is one of the new SU colors called Grapefruit Grove. I used a Die-namics cover plate to cut the white layer, inspired by the stripes in the photo. The fuchsias are layered over the cover plate using dimensionals.

Thanks again for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Fuchsia set by Avery Elle
Paper: SU Grapefruit Grove, X-Press It Blending card stock
Ink: Memento tuxedo black and Copics
Other: Avery Elle Fuchsia die, Die-namics Fishtail Flag die and cover plate, Gemini Jr, clear crystals, dimensionals

Celebrate

Hello,

My bestie, Alison, had a birthday this week. Since she's opened her presents and card now, I can post her card on my blog. I had to wait because I know she does check in here periodically.

For her card, I used the current CAS(E) This Sketch challenge layout. Using Avery Elle stamps, here's what I came up with.

Using some fun patterned papers from Websters Pages, I created the horizontal element. The champagne glasses are from the Avery Elle set Mimosas. They are stamped with Memento tuxedo black and colored with Copics, then cut out with the set dies. The sentiment is Avery Elle too. I cut three, glued them together, inked the top with Distress Oxide ink and embossed with clear EP x 3. Before heating the third layer, I sprinkled some glitter on and then heat set it all. A few enamel dots and it's done. I like the way it turned out. Simple and interesting with the angled papers per the sketch.

The inside is simple too. I used some Concord & 9th stamps for the inside along with more Websters Pages PP.

Thanks for checking in. Have a great Wednesday!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Mimosas set by Avery Elle and Many Mandalas set by Concord & 9th (inside)
Paper: X-Press It Blending card stock and Websters Pages Recorded patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics,  and Tim Holts Distress Oxide inks
Other: Mimosas and Sentimental set dies by Avery Elle, Stitched Square die by MFT, clear EP, heat tool, enamel dots, the Big Shot, dimensionals, Wink of Stella

Happy Holidays

Hi stamping friends,

I've been working on some more Holiday cards this weekend. I still have many more to go before I have enough made. Luckily, Kim has a great sketch for us at Freshly Made Sketches this week. I took advantage of it to make this holiday card. I love the little animals in this Winter Woodland Wonders set by Avery Elle!

This is a simple card and was a quick one to make. I love the color combination in this new SU DSP, and Kim's sketch is perfect to showcase it. I stamped the bear on X-Press It Blending card stock and colored the image with Copics, then cut it out with the set dies. It's popped up with dimensionals on a square cut from DSP with a small Die-namics Stitched Square die. The square is layered on Old Olive card stock cut with a Die-namics Large Fishtail Flag die. The small white, star-shaped snowflake is from a package that I found at Paper Source last year. I added a small clear rhinestone to the center for some sparkle. The sentiment is from the Avery Elle set and it's stamped with Old Olive ink.

For the inside, I used another of the Large Fishtail Flag dies and a sentiment from a new Christmas SU set.

I was gone all week last week working in Los Angeles and I'll be traveling again this week, but only Tuesday through Thursday. I'm headed to Colorado this week and hoping it's not too cold yet.

Thanks for stoping in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Avery Elle set Winter Woodland Wonders and SU Snowflake Sentiments
Paper: SU Whisper White, Old Olive, and X-Press It Blending card stock and SU Merry Little Christmas DSP
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Old Olive
Other: Avery Elle Winter Woodland Wonders dies, Die-namics Large Fishtail Flag dies, Remarks Dimensional Snowflake stickers, clear rhinestone, the Big Shot, dimensionals

Warm Winter Wishes

Hello and Happy Friday!

I made this card last night, but didn't get the picture taken until this morning. Truly squeaking it in to the gallery!

Nance is the hostess this week at Paper Players with a great sketch challenge. I used some of the new DSP from the SU Holiday catalog and a new Christmas set from Avery Elle. A pretty simple card, but with an old time feel. (I think).

More stamps from the set used on the inside.

I used the Die-namics Wonky Stitched Rectangles to cut the DSP and the set dies to cut out the snow couple and north pole sign. They are colored with Copics. I used a Wink of Stella pen and brushed on some sparkle over the snow and used some white Nuvo crystal drops on the lady's hat.

Have a great weekend all!
Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen


Supplies
Stamps: Frosty Friends set by Avery Elle
Paper: SU Heavy Whisper White and regular Whisper White card stock and SU Be Merry DSO
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler, Copics
Other: Die-namics dies, Avery Ellen Frosty Friends dies, Nuvo drops, Wink of Stella, the Big Shot, diemnsionals