You're My Lucky Charm

Hello Peeps,

I've been working on a quilt this past week that will be a wedding gift. The wedding is in early August, but it never hurts to get started. I've gotten all of the blocks completed. Next is sewing the rows, but I first need to figure out how I want to put the colors together. Anyhoo, I put the sewing away for a bit to work on a few of this week's card challenges.

Since it's Thursday already, I decided I'd better get my card done for this week's Paper Players Challenge. Joanne has the monthly Clean and Simple challenge this week. She's chosen Lucky for a theme to go with the CAS challenge.

I pulled out an older MFT set call Lucky. It has some great sentiments along with some cute charm images, some large and some small. I decided I liked the Lucky Charm sentiment and thought of how to use it with the small images. I ended up hand drawing a charm bracelet and then I stamped the small images around it.

For the bracelet, I used an embossing ink pen to draw it and then added the gold EP but I didn't like how "flat" it was. I wanted it more like a chunky chain so I redrew the image on another piece of white card stock and used a fine tip glue bottle with Connect glue squeezing a fine line over the pencil drawing. After adding the gold EP and heating it, I liked the look much better. Next I stamped the small charms with embossing powder around the bracelet and embossed them with the gold EP. I cut the panel out using GKD Master Layouts 2 and matched the layering mat to the stamped sentiment color. The charms are colored with Copics.

Even though this is a CAS challenge, I still thought something else was needed so I found a flower stencil that I could add some background with. I used a very light hand with the blending brush as well as a very pale yellow shade.

Here's the inside with another sentiment and image from the Lucky stamp set.

That's all for now. 

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Lucky stamp set by My Favorite Things

Paper: Gina K Designs Layering Weight white, Denim Blue and Lemon Yellow

Ink: Gina K Designs embossing ink, Blue Denim, Cherry Red and Lemon Yellow, Copics

Other: Gina K Designs Master Layouts 2 dies, gold embossing powder, heat tool, Misti, Big Shot, Connect glue

OCC Holiday 2022 Day 1 Cards

 Hello,

Today, I have day 1 "homework" cards for the 2022 Online Card Classes Holiday 2022 session. 

I've been making cards pretty much every day, but I've not blogged any so far. This morning I took pictures of cards for eight of the classes and got them edited. I had planned to post them to the class galleries through IG instead of my blog, but for some reason I'm not having any luck with getting my pictures to post through IG. I'm sure it's me doing something wrong. Luckily, I can write blog posts and I know the link will work fine.

Day one's class was on Die Cutting. Jennifer McGuire showed a fun faux laser cut technique that I tried out on two cards.

I've used many, many different supplies from many, many different companies through out the two weeks to make my cards. I'm not listing exact products, but listing the general companies used for each day in each blog post. If you would like to know exact supplies I've used for a particular card, just send me an email to cbegley@cox.net.

Todays products are from Concord & 9th, Gina K Designs, and My Favorite Things.

This faux laser cut technique is super fun to do and works with a with a variety of dies.

Thanks,

Colleen

Merriest Christmas

 Hello,

I'm finally wrapping up this year's Holiday card making. I've been making cards for my family to give with their gifts. Today's is one of those. The person that this is for doesn't read my blog, so it's safe to post.

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch and an older MFT Christmas stamp set. That pretty background is made with a SSS slimline cover plate that I used with gold hot foil on red card stock. It worked really well and is super pretty IRL. The sentiment is also done with hot foil. 

I colored the images with colored pencils and used Gamsol to help with blending. They are popped up on a Lawn Fawn snow hill with trees. I used a Nuvo clear Aqua Shimmer pen over all of the trees, but as usual, my photo doesn't show the shine.

Here is the inside.

Have a wonderful Friday, and thanks for looking in,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Christmas Cuteness by My Favorite things

Gina K Designs card stock

Gina K Designs inks

Lawn Fawn Slim Forrest Border die

Simon Says Stamp Detail Bohemian Slim Plate

Pink Fresh Studio Christmas Sentiments Hot Foil Plate

Spellbinders gold hot foil

Gemini Jr and Gemini Hot Foiling system

Misti

Colored pencils and Gamsol

Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen

SU Dimensionals

Superheros in Scrubs

Hello crafty peeps,

I hope you are all staying well. Keeping your social distancing up and if you are staying in, you have plenty of activities to keep you busy. I am still working as my job is considered "essential." I help keep laboratory testing equipment operating so hospital and clinical labs can continue to perform patient testing. Every facility I go to I am put through a series of questions and my temperature is taken.

We have a family friend who is in an ICU unit with COVID-19. She is on a ventilator and has been since the weekend. She is starting to show signs of improvement and we are so thankful. I wanted to make a thank you card for her nursing staff and the docs taking care of her. I used this weeks Freshly Made Sketch  to make the card.

I've used the MFT sets called Super Hero in Scrubs and Doctor's Orders. They seemed quite appropriate. The images are stamped using Memento tuxedo black on X-Press It Blending card stock and colored with Copies, then cut out with the corresponding dies.

I used the MFT brick stencil for the circle background. The patterned papers are from a SSS monthly kit and are called Timeless Rose from Polkadoodler.

Here's the inside. The sentiment is from the Super Hero in Scrubs set. I used the MFT brick stencil again to make the background.

Have a happy Friday and thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Super Hero in Scrubs and Doctor's Orders sets by My Favorite Things
Paper: X-Press It Blending, TE Red and Blue card stocks, Polkadoodler pattern papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Night of Navy and Riding Hood Red
Other: Die-namics Stitched Circle die, Hero Arts Infinity dies, enamel dots, Misti, Gemini Jr, Dimensionals, MFT Stencil, TE blending brush

You Look Fabulous, Darling!

Hi again,

Since I had so much fun coloring the Pure Innocence images in my last post, I reached for another when I saw this week's Paper Players Challenge theme. Laurie is our hostess this week with a fun and different theme. One that I don't remember having before. I again used this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

Because this is also a CAS theme, I made a one layer card, basically. There is a bit of DSP on the inside. I used the same Avery Elle Stitched edge die to cut the front of the card to match the sketch and layered the DSP on the inside's edge to show through.

I used the colors in the DSP for my coloring choices. After I finished coloring the image, I used a clear glitter pen (i think SSS) to add lots of sparkle to the pink boa, and some Glossy Accents on her shoes to make them look shiny. After the coloring was completed, I made a mask for the image, then using a MFT brick stencil and a TE blending brush with Granite Gray ink I added in the sidewalk.

To decorate the inside of the card, I fussy cut a purse from the DSP and added a couple of SU sentiments. I like how this SU sentiment goes so well with the front image, and the challenge theme.

Unfortunately, it's back to work tomorrow. Luckily, I get to stay in Southern California and not travel to a cold and snowy city like one of my co-workers is having to do.

Thanks all,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Pure Innocence Dress Up Diva set and SU Sending You Thoughts set 

Paper: SSS Heavy white card stock and SU 6 x 6" DSP sampler from the new Mini catalog

Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, Altenew Plum ink cube, SU Granite Gray

Other: Avery Elle Stitched edge die, Gemini Jr, SSS clear glitter pen, Glossy Accents, sequins and tiny clear rhinestone, liquid glue, MFT Brick stencil, TE blending brush, Misti, Gina K masking paper

Pure Innocence Winter Fun

Hello Stamping Peeps,

It's a gloomy Sunday here on the San Diego coast. A perfect day to stay in and stamp. Not that I need an excuse.

Retro Rubber Challenge has a winter theme for their first challenge of 2020 and I decided it would be fun to color one of my Pure Innocence images. I have several that will work for this challenge, and ended up picking a couple of cute girls out to play in the snow. I've used one set for the outside of the card and another for the inside image. The layout is this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

The background sky is a panel of white card stock that I blended with Soft Sky and Smoky Slate inks with a blending brush. After the inks dried, I put a Falling Snow stencil over it and brushed on some white craft ink. For the snow hills and the bottom layer, I used a Falling Snow EF. One of the hills is cut out using a Die-namics hill/tree die and the other Die-namics Stitched Hill die. The curved edge for the top layer of the card is cut with an Avery Elle stitched edge die. The Pure Innocence girl is stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copics, fussy cut out and popped up with dimensionals.

For the inside of the card, I used another Pure Innocence set. This one is the little skier. She is also stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copics, fussy cut out,  and layered onto a panel of Soft Sky card stock that is embossed with the same Falling Snow EF. I carefully cut the line between her arm and body to add her skis.

A fun card to make and color.

Have a wonderful Sunday evening and thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence Heart Warmer and Ski Girl sets by My Favorite Things
Paper: SU Thick Whisper White card stock, X-Press It Blending card stock and SU Soft Sky card
stock
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Soft Sky and Smoky Slate
Other: Die-namics and Avery Elle dies, Taylored Expressions Falling Snow embossing folder, Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow stencil, TE blending brushes, Misti, Gemini Jr, Wink of Stella, dimensionals

A Very Merry

Happy Saturday Peeps,

Yay for the weekend! I don't have much planned and I'm good with that. More craft time! We are going to friends for dinner tonight, but other than that, some weekend chores and my craft room.

Last night after I turned off the work computer, I pulled out my new Concord & 9th September release stamp sets. All are Holiday/Christmas sets and all are gorgeous. I decided to make a card using this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! layout. It's a simple and fun sketch with tons of possibilities.

The plaid background is stamped using the new Woven Stripes background stamp. It's layered onto a Cherry Cobbler panel, then both onto the kraft card base. The flower is from the new Christmas Florals set. It's stamped on Whisper White and colored with Copics, then cut out using the set die. I also used the set die to cut the shape from the kraft square panel, which is popped up so that the flower is inset. Unfortunately, it really doesn't show up in the photo. For embellishment, I used three gold pearls from SU in the center of the flower, and added some Wink of Stella over the petals.

Here is the inside of the card. Images are from the Christmas Florals set.

I had made a card for last week's sketch, but never got around to writing a blog post. Sometimes that happens when I have a week with pretty long work days that include lots of driving. Anyhoo- here's last week's card and sketch. These stamps are from an older MFT set called Fall Friends. The background is stamped using the Concord & 9th Gingham Background stamp.

The paper is SU Neutrals Ivory, and I think that is why the background is rather splotchy. It kind of goes with the country feel of the stamp images.

Thanks for looking in. Have a wonderful weekend!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Woven Stripes Background and Christmas Florals sets by Concord & 9th
              Gingham Background set by Concord & 9th and Fall Friends set by My Favorite Things
Paper:   Neenah Desert Storm, SU Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
             SU Garden Green and Neutrals Ivory
Ink:       Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Cherry Cobbler and Shaded Spruce
             Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Garden Green
Other:   Christmas Florals set dies, Die-namics Stitched Square die, Misti, Gemini Jr, SU gold pearls
             MFT Fall Friends set dies, Misti, Gemini Jr, SU green enamel dots
             dimensionals

Got Powder?

Hello,

The very talented Claire is our hostess this week at The Paper Players Challenge. The challenge is a Clean and Simple one with a theme of Snowy Day.

I have several stamps that would have worked well and since I was in the mood to pull out my Copics and color while watching the AO Tennis matches, I choose this little PI Snowboarder. Besides, I think many would say this is a perfect way to spend a snowy day. I originally had this as a single layer card, but in the end I couldn't help myself to add a layer of snowy mountains with a ski hill. It's still a fairly CAS card. (my story and I'm sticking to it.)

The mountains are created with a Lawn Fawn die and the hill with a Die-namics die. The snow is created with a TE embossing folder. I blended some bright blue Distress Oxide ink on the top of the card base then glued the mountain and hill panel on top. The snowboarder is fussy cut out and adhered with Dimensionals. I covered his goggles with a layer of Glossy Accents.

The inside is super CAS, just the sentiment and snowy mountains.

Thanks for checking in. Have a nice Thursday!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Snowboard Boy Pure Innocence by My Favorite Things
Paper: SU heavy Whisper White and X-Press It Blending card stocks
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Island Indigo, Distress Oxide Ink in Broken China
Other: Lawn Fawn and Die-namics dies, Taylored Expressions Snow embossing folder, Glossy Accents, Gemini Jr, Misti, Dimensionals

Cocoa Melts the Winter Blues

Hello to all,

I originally made this card for one challenge, but after I finished, realized that it was more suited for another. Turns out the first challenge is a Clean and Simple challenge this week, and this card just doesn't fit. It does work for this week's Color Throwdown Challenge pretty well, where the colors are shades of blue with white and the inspiration photo has snow flakes.

I started by stamping the WTG circle image in the center of a 6 x 6" piece of white card stock. I masked the circle and stamped the snowflakes using the Concord & 9th Snowflake Turnabout stamp. The WTG images are colored wth Copics, and the panel is trimmed to 5.25 x 4". It's mounted with foam tape to a white card base. The sentiment is heat embossed on Brilliant Blue card stock with white powder. For embellishments I added some dark and light blue rhinestones and painted a liberal coating of Wink of Stella over the scarf and gloves.

For the inside, I used more images from the WTG set.

Have a nice Sunday afternoon/evening, and thanks,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: WTG Gets Cozy With Cocoa by My Favorite Things and Snowflake Turnabout by Concord & 9th
Paper: X-Press It Blending and SU Brilliant Blue card stock
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Brilliant Blue and Balmy Blue ink pads, VersaMark, Copics
Other: White EP, heat tool, Misti, Rhinestones, Wink of Stella, foam tape

You're On the Nice List

Hi all and happy Saturday afternoon,

It's become a very gloomy afternoon in my neck of the woods. The fog has rolled in off the ocean to make for a dark and gray sky. I spent the morning doing chores and most of the afternoon shopping with a friend for Small Business Saturday. There's a street in Solana Beach with little shops known as Cedros Design Center. A few of the stores are similar to antique stores where there are little individual booths within the big building. Very fun to browse!

When I got home, I made one more Christmas card using this week's Merry Monday theme, which is to use Santa on our cards. I've used an older MFT set called Jingle All the Way.

I stamped the little reindeer using Crumb Cake ink on Neenah Desert Storm paper. Using a red Copic, I colored in their noses. The panel was trimmed down to 3.5 inches x 5.5 inches and placed on a card base that is covered with Lawn Fawn plaid holiday paper. I cut the tree and Santa images from X-Press It Blending paper and then stamped the images. They are colored with Copics and glued to the center of the top panel. The sentiment is stamped in Real Red and cut out with a Die-namics Fishtail Flag die, but I squared off the ends. I cut another from the plaid paper and glued the sentiment on top.

Here 's the inside:

On both the outside and inside Santas, I used some white Nuvo drops on the hats.

Have a great evening and thanks for stopping by,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Jingle All the Way set by My Favorite Things
Paper: Neenah Desert Storm, X-Press It Blending and SU Crumb Cake card stocks, Lawn Fawn Christmas Plaid patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Real Red, Copics
Other: Die-namics Jingle All the Way, Fishtail Flags dies, Wink of Stella, Nuvo drops, white gel pen, the Big Shot, dimensionals

Wishing You A Harvest of Blessings

Hello stamping friends,

I'm squeaking in my card for the Paper Players challenge, where LeAnne has a CAS Fall/Harvest theme this week. I made this card Sunday evening after dinner, but didn't get a chance to take a picture to blog it before leaving for Los Angeles on Monday morning.

I tried this technique after watching Jennifer's video. I had some issues with the gold EP not sticking, or sticking too much in places. I watercolored the images with Distress Oxide ink and water. In keeping with the CAS spirit, I left off embellishments and layers.

The inside: A pumpkin pie using Lawn Fawn stamps.

Have a fun Friday!

Thanks,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Harvest Mouse set by My Favorite Things and Lawn Fawn Cutie Pie set (inside)
Paper: SU Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla card stock, Strathmore water color paper
Ink: VersaMark, SU Old Olive, Distress Oxide
Other: Die-namics Stitched Pumpkin dies, gold EP, the Big Shot

School. . . Thankful for You

Hello from a very gloomy and cold San Diego!

It's been foggy and drippy all day here. Don't know where the summer has disappeared to. I usually take my pictures outside, but because of how misty it is today, I set my card in front of my Copics to take the pictures.

While looking though my usual blogs last night after dinner I saw that Justin had posted the new challenge at Stamp, Ink, Paper. This week it's a Back To School theme. I really have no school themed stamps, amazingly, but I figured out something with this cute little PI set called "It's A Sign."

Of course, these great patterned papers from Echo Park help with the theme. I stamped the image in Memento tuxedo black and colored her up with Copics. For the sign I cut out a piece of black card stock and used a white chalk pen to hand write the equation on the "black board." I should have used a gold star instead of a blue one, though. (Do teachers still put gold stars on student's homework?) (It's probably all done electronically these days!)

Here's a look at the inside. The apple is from Lawn Fawn.

Tomorrow will be long and busy for me. I have to be in Los Angeles by 8:30 am and it's a 90 mile drive. That means I need to be out of the house before 6 am.

We have a friend coming for dinner tonight, so that will be fun.

Thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence "It's A Sign" set by My Favorite Things
Paper: SU Real Red and X-Press It Blending card stock and Paper and Glue 6x6 pad by Echo Park patterned paper
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Midnight Muse
Other: Die-namics Stitched Oval and Fishtail Flag dies, white chalk pen, blue enamel star, the Big Shot, dimensionals

You're Flippin' Awesome!

Hello all,

I hope that you've had a fun and relaxing weekend. I certainly did. Yesterday some weekend chores in the morning, Little League BB in the afternoon and Big League BB in the evening. Today, Mr. Personal Chef and I walked into our little town for the Spring Street Faire. We bought some new wine tools that look pretty cool. In fact we also bought a set for our friends. Since we just happen to be going to dinner there this evening, I came home and made a card to go with the gift. Our friend Jai is an awesome cook and we eat there frequently. (His son Nic is the Little League player.)

Using Amy's awesome sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, here's the thank you card.

This is kind of a one layer card. Just the die cuts make a "second" layer. The card base is SU heavy weight card stock. I stamped the images on X-Press It Blending card stock with Memento black and colored them with Copies. Using the MFT set dies I cut them out and placed them around the SU wreath, cut from black card stock. I decided to embellishment with the scored lines, using my Score-pal.

Here's the inside. The Thanks sentiment is Lawn Fawn.

I really like how this one turned out.

Have a wonder week everyone and, as always, thanks for checking in!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Recipe for Happiness set by My Favorite Things
Paper: SU heavy weight, SU Basic Black and X-Press It Blending card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics
Other: MFT Recipe for Happiness dies, the Big Shot, dimensionals, SU mini glue dots

Johnny Depp

Hello,

I'm back home, and very happy to be here. If you saw my last post a week ago, you know that I was in New Jersey for work this past week. I flew home yesterday afternoon and arrived into San Diego at 9:00 pm last night. It seemed like a really long week. During the week there was snow, ice, wind and COLD and some very long days in the office.

Since my flight didn't leave Newark, NJ until 3:40 pm yesterday I had some time to kill. I found a great paper crafting/rubber stamp store near my hotel. It's in Kenvil, New Jersey and it's called Paper Anthology. If you live near by, it's worth a trip. The store is in an old house converted into the store. It looks small from the outside, but she has tons of merchandise and it's all up to date. She clearly attends the hobby and crafts convention. I came home with a haul! Several new Altenew sets and dies, and some super cute Funny Bone stamps from Riley and Company.

My friends at the Paper Players have a fun CAS theme challenge this week. It's Laurie's turn as hostess and her challenge is to use a sentiment as the focal image. It is perfect for one of my new Funny Bones stamps. When I saw this, I cracked up! And, who doesn't love Johnny Depp? Especially Captain Jack Sparrow, but, I think my favorite Johnny Depp movie is the old Rom Com, Chocolat with Juliette Binoche. I also loved him in Dark Shadows where just like in Pirates, he delivers just the right amount of snark! Here's my card:

I kept my card super simple. It's a small, square 4 x 4" card. I used the MFT brick stencil and sponged some Hero Arts Shadow ink in Wet Cement in the center. I stamped the sentiment with SU Archival Black ink on an angle over the sponging, then cut a couple of frames using the MFT Stitched Square frame die from two shades of TE gray card stock. I added a pink enamel heart for a feminine touch. (and because this is a congrats card for my niece who just landed a new job in a law office). The inside just says "Congrats" on your new job.

That's it from me for the day. I hope you all have a great week ahead!
Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Funny Bones #RWD-118 stamp by Riley and Company
Paper: SU Heavy Weight Whisper White, TE textured gray card stock
Ink: Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Wet Cement and SU Archival Black
Other: Die-namics Stitched Square Frame die, MFT Brick Wall stencil, enamel heart, the Big Shot, foam tape

Just Relax

Hey all,

It's "Hump Day" and I'm so excited because I only have two more days until vacation time. I'm frantically trying to get everything finished and packed for my trip to Europe. We leave Tuesday next week. I spent my Thanksgiving holidays finishing up my Christmas and December's family and friends birthday cards.

Using the current Sunday Stamps sketch, I made this card for my niece, Rachel, whose birthday is (sadly) Dec. 26th. She loves yoga and pink! Is this not the perfect card?

This is the MFT Pure Innocence set called Serenity. I stamped her with Memento tuxedo black and colored her with Copics. The plaid paper is from Lawn Fawn and the cover plate is Die-namics.

Here is the inside:

Thanks for stopping by,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Serenity Pure Innocence set by My Favorite Things stamps and SU Endless Birthday Wishes set (inside image and greeting)
Paper: TE pink textured card stock, X-Press It blending card stock and SU Gable Green card stock, Lawn Fawn plaid patterned paper
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Comics, SU Blushing Bride Pink ink pad
Other: Die-namics polka dot cover plate and Stitched Square dies, Lawn Fawn heart die, pink rhinestones, the Big Shot, diemensionals

Believe

Hello and Happy Tuesday,

I've been furiously trying to finish up my holiday cards and I actually think that I have enough now. I made this one last night for the young guy that does our windows. We usually give hime gift cards to lunch spots like Panera and Rubios so he can grab a quick lunch while working.

I wanted a somewhat "masculine" looking card and found some great inspiration at Inspired By All the Little Things and CAS(E) This Sketch. Also, Merry Monday has a masculine theme this week.

I used a simple "chalk board" technique with the MFT Holiday Subway stamp set. Very quick and easy. To raise the black panel up I used some fun foam.

Thanks for looking in today,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Holiday Subway set by My Favorite Things and Christmas Kitch set by Avery Elle

Paper: SU Basic Black card stock and My Minds Eye Necessities Wood Designer patterned paper

Ink: Memento Brilliance Moonlight White craft ink, Memento tuxedo black, SU Emerald Envy and Copics

Other: SU White EP, heat tool, Christmas Ktich dies, the Big Shot, fun foam