Happy, Happy, Happy

Hey all,

How's your weekend been? I just got home from a house/dog sitting gig that started Wednesday. The house that I was "sitting" has a great backyard with a pool. Needless to say, I took advantage of that.

I decided to take a break from Christmas cards and make a birthday card. I haven't had a chance to play in Linda's Catered Crop Recipe Swap for awhile, so I pulled out some Washi tape that I purchased a few years ago and got busy. Love the title of this challenge, "Washi's Up Recipe Swap." Linda is SO clever, not to mention a fab artist! This is a pretty simple card, and I rather like the way it turned out.

Supplies
Stamps: Taylored Expressions Bikes and Trikes Set
Paper: TE Choice Snow White, SU Pumpking Pie and More Mustard card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: Washi Tape, scalloped circle and classic circle Nesties, SU black ribbon, Want 2 Scrap black pearls, corner rounder punch, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

I leave for two weeks on Tuesday. First to Delaware for work and then to Northern California for a visit with my mom and sister. Probably not much stamping during this time, but I'll be checking in with my list of blogging friends. Have a great Sunday evening and thanks all,

Colleen

Hello, Friend

Good afternoon all,

I'm spending a lazy Saturday afternoon stamping and watching baseball. (My two absolute favorite things!)

I decided to "Get Sketchy" and play along with the MFTWSC76 layout. I converted the bottom scalloped element to a banner so I could enter this in Linda's Catered Crop "banners and bunting" challenge as well.

Lots and lots of layers here, which I love to do. After stamping the PI girls on the white CS, I colored them with Copics and paper pieced their clothes with the same PP as the backgrounds. Then I sponged SU Bordering Blue ink all over the white areas making the edges a little darker.

After stitching around all of the panels, I used the Fishtail flag Die-namics die for the sentiment element at the top and the Mini Doily circles Die-manics for the banner.

Here is the inside:

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence Being Cute Is What I Do and Freckles sets by My Favorite Things
Paper: SU Bordering Blue and Real Red CS, X-press It Blending CS and Summer Fresh Simple Stories PP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black, SU Night of Navy and Real Red, and Copics
Other: Die-namics Fishtail Flags, Mini Doily Circles and Large Scalloped border dies, SU real red brad, SU triple heart punch, SU cherry cobbler bakers twine, sewing machine, and dimensionals

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Thanks for coming by,
Colleen

Ribbon Rainbow

Happy Friday evening,

I made this card after work today for Linda's Ravenous About Ribbon Recipe Swap. I've been trying to come up with a little different use of ribbon since the challenge was posted, and a few days ago I thought of a "ribbon rainbow." After work today I went looking through my stamps and came across my PI "You Color My World" set. Perfect!

The ribbons are from Stampin' Up. She is colored with Copics, (Lots of Copics!) cut out, and popped up on dimensionals.

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence "You Color My World" set by My Favorite Things
Paper: Taylored Expressons light blue and white card stock and Hippity Hoppity by We R Memories patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black and Copics
Other: SU ribbons and dimensionals

Here are all of the Copics I used:

I'm looking forward to a crafty weekend. How about you? Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen

Perfect Companions

Happy Saturday Crafty Friends,

I'm getting Sketchy with MFTWSC61 today.  I used some October Afternoon patterned papers, focusing on the color red for Linda's Recipe Swap "Seeing Red" challenge on a background of Kraft card stock for Jeanie's "That's Krafty Thursday" challenge.

This cute little "Purrfect" PI girl is colored with Copics. The sentiment is from the MFT "Clearly Sentimental About Pets" stamp set.

Here is the inside:

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence "Purrfect" and "Clearly Sentimental About Pets" sets by My Favorite Things
Paper: Taylored Expressions red and SU Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stock and October Afternoon "Homemaker" patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU real red and Copics
Other: Die-namics dies, Sizzix and SU embossing folders, SU red rhinestone brads, SU red polka-dot ribbon, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Here are the Copics used today:

Thanks for stopping in today. Have a great rest of your weekend.

Colleen

Cozy Christmas Wishes

I had a great weekend stamping and got some more Christmas cards made. Although I still have a ways to go, I am making progress.
Today's card is made using Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #27 and one the newer Pure Innocence sets.

I'm entering this card in Linda's Catered Crop, FTR25 challenge as well. My ingredients for this challenge are:

Colors: cream, red, and green
Images: winter scene, hollies and berries, Christmas
Tools: die cuts, scallop edges
Miscellaneous: ribbon, pearls
Techniques: layers and layers

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence Stocking Girl by My Favorite Things
Card stock: Taylored Expressions green, red and choice buttercream
Patterned papers: Wonder collection by Authentique
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU cherry cobler
Other: Christmas baker's twine, SU felt holly, Kaiser red pearls, red heart rhinestone, red Stickles, classic square and scalloped square Nesties, sewing machine, corner rounder punch, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Good Friendships

It's late Sunday evening and the end of another weekend. I hope you all had a good one. Today, I had the chance to make a couple cards. The one I'm showing you in this post I made using Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #24 and a new stamp that the mail man brought me this past week with my latest MFT order.

I pulled out my October Key Ingredients kit from Taylored Expressions for most of the papers and embellishments. I was looking for fall colors to use and these papers work well. The paper on the top part of the card is the reverse side of the paper on the bottom.  I inked the recessed side of an embossing folder with some red Color Box chalk ink before running through my Big Shot. For the oval with the image, I inked the raised side with rust Color Box chalk ink before running through. Such a fun look and a great way to add more dimension to the project. The heart is paper pieced, as you can see.

I've missed a few FTR challenges over at Linda's Catered Crop blog. I checked out the recipe, and the fall colors "ingredient" is what I started with when planning this card. Additional added "ingredients," patterned papers, Copic markers, thread, ribbon, paper piecing, sewing, die cuts, Autumn/Fall theme, and I'm ready to play along.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful week ahead. Thanks for looking in,

Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Heart Felt by Claire Keay/My Favorite Things
Card stock: Hillary and choice buttercream from Taylored Expressions
Patterned paper: Farmhouse by Crate Paper
Ink: Memento rich cocoa, Color Box chalk in red and rust, Copics
Other: Flowers EF, classic and scalloped oval Nesties, mum flower and flower brad from October KI kit, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Is Pink the New Orange?

Good evening all,

I have a card tonight for you that I really had fun putting together. I've used lots of tools on this one. The sketch is Jen's Deconstructed Sketch 18. The colors of pink, gray and black, come from the current CR84FN38 color challenge and the pastel colors, die cuts and embossing will work for Linda's Catered Crop FTR20 challenge.

I reached for another new MFT Pure Innocence set called "Little Witch" that I received in the mail last Saturday. She's so cute! The patterned papers are some long retired Halloween and Valentine's Stampin' Up DSPs and, as you can see, her witches costume is paper pieced with them. I used craft black ink and Black Diamond embossing powder to make shiny, sparkly lines on all of the stamped images. For my layout, I rotated the sketch and also angled the two top panels for more interest.

The pink pumpkins are made from the SU small oval punch. Her pink shoes and the buckle on her hat are colored with a Spica glitter pen.

Here's the inside:

Supplies

Stamps: Pure Innocence "Little Witch" by My Favorite Things

Card stock: Stampin' Up textured gray and black, TE choice snow white

Patterned papers: SU retired Halloween and Valentine's DSP

Ink: SU craft black and Copics

Other: Judi Kins Black Diamond embossing powder, SU spider web, houndstooth and square lattice embossing folders, labels 4 Nesties, Die-namics double scalloped border die, SU small oval punch, sewing machine, pink Spica glitter pen, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

I have to get up really early tomorrow, like 4:00 am, for work. Not so fun! I hope everyone has a great Wednesday and, thanks all.

Colleen

Fall Days Are Fun Days

Good evening all,

While I was on vacation a few weeks ago, I ordered some new Pure Innocence stamps from My Favorite Things. I love this fall sweetie with the carmel apple, so I decided to ink her up first. I'm using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch 130 for the layout. The colors, kraft, yellow and white, come from the current CR84FN36 color challenge.

I think this card works well for the current FTR18 over at Linda's Catered Crop blog. My ingredients are in red.


Colors – primary colors like red, yellow, blue (and green), and a little brown for dirt
Stamps and Stickers – anything that grows from a seed, gardening, back to school, worms!
Patterns – circles, checked/gingham, notebook paper
Color Mediums – stamping ink, markers (ProMarker, Copics)
Embellishments – buttons, ribbon, thread/twine
Tools – border punch, die cut shapes, embossing plates
Techniques – make a bookmark, mat your panels, tie ribbons through your buttons, machine sewing
Theme – garden, back to school

And, since I've used kraft card stock, this card works perfectly for Jeanie's "That's Krafty Thursday" challenge.

Supplies

Stamps: Pure Innocence "Carmel Apple" by My Favorite Things

Card stock: SU kraft, black, whisper white

Patterned paper: Pebbles Treehouse

Other paper: purchased corrugated kraft 

Ink: memento tuxedo black and Copics

Other: SU flower and border punches, Fiskers corner rounder, SU houndstooth embossing folder, SU kraft button, white floss, white candy dots, Sakura gloss pen, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Have a great Wednesday all and thanks for stopping by,

Colleen

New Toys to Play With

I received my latest MFT order yesterday, so naturally, I just had to break some of them out today and play. I picked a new PI girl called "Crazy for Daisies." I've fallen in love with these PI girls. Who wouldn't? :)

I colored her and the daisies with Copics, except her dress is paper pieced with the same yellow plaid paper as the scallop at the bottom of the card. Instead of coloring her flower pin, I used some pink rhinestones to add some sparkle. The panels are zig-zag stitched all around, but I left the scalloped piece loose so it ruffles up. The buttons are threaded with 3 different colors of baker's twine and adhered with popup glue dots.

The layout is Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge #112. (Love it this week.) I also used several ingredients for the current Follow the Recipe #9 challenge at Linda's Catered Crop blog. The ingredients I used are:

     Patterned paper: stripes and plaid
     Colors: blue and yellow
     Embellishments: bling, buttons and ribbon
     Tools: sewing
     Shapes: scallops

The sentiment is not from the PI set, but rather a SU set. I wanted to make this a Thank You card. My friend has put in an order for three Administrative Assistant Day cards, which is at the end of April, so I thought I'd get started.

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence "Crazy for Daisies" by My Favorite Things and "So Happy For You" by Stampin' UP
Card stock: SU ballet blue and TE choice snow white
Patterned paper: SU Pawstivetly Prints
Ink: memento tuxedo black and Copics
Other: Die-namics Fishtail banner and scalloped scallop border dies, SU buttons, baker's twine, TE pink plaid ribbon, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles, sewing machine, the Big Shot, pop up glue dots, and dimensionals

Here's to a wonderful work week. I have a short one as we are taking this Friday and next Monday off and heading up to the Central Coast wine country (yum!) for a long weekend with friends.

Thanks for stopping by today,
Colleen

Spring Has Sprung

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday,

Today's card I made to participate in the "Follow the Recipe" challenge (FTR #7) on the Catered Crop blog. This concept looked like fun and so I decided to give it a try. Here's the card that I came up with:

(click image to view larger)

Here's the FTR #7 recipe:

• Pattern Paper – Plaids or Stripes
• Colors – Spring, pastel colors
• Stamps – bunny rabbits, flowers (especially violets)
• Color Mediums – Copic markers, printer's ink (yep, it's a digital image)
• Embellishments – pearls, ribbon, felt, flowers
• Tools – Circle, lace, doily, flower, or curly flourish punches or die cuts
• Techniques – highlighting around an image, handmade or rolled flower embellishments, tying bows
• Theme – Spring, Easter, Birthday
• Shapes – Circles, lace and doilies, curly flourishes.

The rules say to use any of the ingredients to make a project or card and I was able to use most in mine. Here are the supplies I used at each element:

Patterned paper:  Basic Grey Koshi flowers and plaid
Card stock colors: TE pastels
Stamps: Amber Ink bunny and TE Favorite Peeps
Color Mediums: Copics, printed digi stamp, SU bravo burgundy ink
Embellishments: Zva pink pearls, Kaiser rhinestones, sewing machine, felt rolled flowers
Tools: lace doily from TE, big scalloped Nestie, Die-namics rolled flower die, TE background die
Techniques: felt rolled flowers, ribbon "leaves"
Theme: Easter/Spring
Shapes: circles, doily
Other supplies: the Big Shot, dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by,
Colleen