Thurs. Mar 31, 2011 Two today

The last day of March- woo hoo! I am sure hoping for a BIG improvement in the weather NOW!!!!  LOL

First up is a card where I used a stamp from Melanie's newest set called "Bring the Bling".  What a fun set! I stamped the bling in Versamark on some patterned paper and then used white EP and heat set it. I dotted each bling dot with some Glossy Accents. I then added one of the butterflies from Gina's latest StampTV kit called "Springtime Silhouettes". I stamped the butterfly on pale pink vellum, using white EP.  I colored the backside of it with a Copic marker. A little sentiment popped up, some nail heads, twine and a button and it was finished! Oh, I added a score line below the twine too.

My next card uses a stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers, called "Greet the Day with Gerber". The daisies were stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers.  The doily is called Italian Flourish.  I also stamped and used white EP for the butterfly (available here).  I colored the back of this with a dark pink marker.

This card is for SCS challenge CAS112- cut up sentiment.   See you soon!

Wed. Mar. 30, 2011 Thank you for helping out!

Here we are at the middle of the week already- time is flying, even though nice weather is still eluding us. I have another "Cute as a Bug" card to show you today!  These stamps are a lot of fun to play with.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tues. Mar. 29, 2011 Lady Bugs

This "Cute as a Bug" stamp set by Rupa is adorable, and I am having a lot of fun with it!!

For my card today, I ended up stamping the bugs twice- one on a scrap of rubber so I could get a reverse image.  The "bugs" were colored with Copics. I sponged the sky with Distress ink and used MS scissors for the grass. The cloud was cut free form and sponged on the edges.

I appreciate you stopping by!

Mar. 28, 2011 Sketch Challenge STVSKSP19

Happy Monday!  It's time for another sketch challenge from Gina.

I turned it a bit, to make my card.  I used a couple of images from Gina's Stenciled Spring.  Once again, I colored the stamps with Memento markers and spritzed with water.  I love the watercolor look!

I will be back tomorrow and hope you will be back too! I want to thank all of you that left comments for my CSS hop card this past weekend- it means so much to me!

Sun. Mar. 27, 2011 Color Challenge STVCSP17

Friday was another color challenge at Stamp TV.  Today, I have my card to show you.  First, here is the color combo, Gina chose for us.

My card uses a fabulous new flower image and a sentiment from the new StampTV kit, called Springtime Silhouettes.  This is really a wonderful set- so many fun stamps to work with, in addition to all the card stock and included ribbons!

 

I applied Memento markers and a spritz of water to create the look of a water colored image. I like the simplicity of this image. For those of you that don't particularly like to make sympathy cards-this image would make for a quick understated card.
I appreciate you stopping by!

Speedy the Cat Challenge #49

Joanne provided us with our challenge this week, on Speedy's blog.  We were to dry and heat emboss and pop up part of the image. My dry embossing is the border around my die cut . I used Distress ink and sponged lightly around my dandelions. The image is from Mark's Finest Paper's "Just Dandy" stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by!

Sat. 3/25/2011 CSS Sketch Hop

Well, I hope you are ready for another Center Stage Alumni Hop.  This time Melissa Cash gave us a great sketch to work with for this hop.

If you arrived from Joy Hadden's BLOG, you are in the right place.  If you would like to start at the beginning, click HERE.

Here is my card, where I used a sentiment from Gina K's "Floral Wreath" stamp set.  I colored the metal accents with Alcohol inks, to match my card.

Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (March 29th), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment for me, but now you've got to head over to Kay's BLOG and check out her beautiful work! You won't be disappointed!

Friday Mar. 25, 2011 Don't worry, BEE happy

This little guy is so cute, and I had a lot of fun inking him up!  After I stamped and clolored him with Copics, I stamped a second time, with Stazon, on a piece of acrylic..  I cut them out, attached to the bee and then added dots of glitter to the wings.  The background was sponged and I added some grass.  

I thought the rosette, in white cs, would make a cute daisy to highlight the sentiment.

I hope you bought the "Cute as a Bug" set, 'cause it's so darn cute!

Thurs. Mar. 24, 2011 What a great free stamp!

I received my order on Tuesday, and got my free GKD 2nd Anniversary stamp set.  I had a lot of fun working with this.  I can see myself using this one a lot!

 I paper pieced the dress and then glittered over the bodice and the little flower on the shoulder of the dress.  I did some quick bg sponging and CB'd some polka dots

on GKD Ivory cs.  The sentiment is included in this set. Cute, huh?

Thank you for checking in!

Wed. Mar. 23, 2011 Gina's Hope Butterfly

I fell in love with a color combo Vicki used the other day and I wanted to try it myself.  I am happy with the result!!!

The butterfly from Gina K. Designs Hope is Faith stamp set and such a fun one to color with Copics!  This is a pretty CAS card, and that's a good thing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tues. Mar. 22, 2011 SC324

I was looking for a sketch to work with and found this one,

over at SCS # SC324.

I found this to be a fun sketch and one I will probably use again.

The sentiment for my card is from Melanie's "A Beautiful Life" stamp set. I made flower using Tim Holtz's Alterations Tattered Flowers, with a light weight kraft paper. I sprayed it with Glimmer mist.

Thank you for checking in today!

Mon. Mar. 21, 2011 STVSKSP18

Happy Monday?????  Well, maybe not!  I guess it depends on the weather in your area.  As I type this, we are having a thunderstorm and it is as dark and gloomy as night this afternoon. Yuck, but a good day to stamp and create, I think!

The card for today meets the requirements for Gina's sketch this week.

I just love the colors I used this time around.  I'm thinking Spring!!! The butterfly and the sentiment are from Gina's "Picture It" stamp set. 

That's it for today, but will be back tomorrow!  Thank you for visiting

Sun. Mar. 20, 2011 Card and gift box

I have another card and gift box to show you today.  These are so much fun to create- hope the recipient will like them.

The wreath and the sentiment are from Mark's Finest Papers "Flourishes and Frame " stamp set.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Mar. 19, 2011 Speedy the Cat's Challenge # 47

Good Morning!
I am proud to be hostessing the challenge this week at Speedy the Cat's blog!

My challenge for you is to make a round card, and to use 3 pastel colors, 3 blings and 1 image. I hope you will play along and head over to Speedy's blog to check out what you can win. The butterfly and the sentiment are from Mark's Finest Papers "Just Dandy" stamp set, available HERE.

 

Thank you for stopping by!

Fri. Mar. 18, 2011 STVCSP16

Here we are at Friday already- Yeah!!!!  and time for another color challenge at Stamp TV.  This is where we start. What a fun, Spring-like color palette!

I have lots of birthday cards to get out in the mail the next few months, and oh my- so many of us are heading over another "hill"!!!!! My focal image cake is from Melanie's "Candles on your Cake" stamp set, which I blinged up!

I hope you stop back tomorrow!

Mar. 17, 2011 St. Patrick's Day

Are you wearing green today, even if you aren't Irish? I am because I went to St. Patrick Academy with the most awesome bunch of girls. I made this card as a message to them and to all of my peeps here too.

Wed. Mar.16, 2011 Place cards for Easter 2011

I recently got this box die and had so much fun with it.  I decided to make them into Easter place cards for dinner at my sister's house. The Hoppy Easter sentiment and names were computer generated.

The bunny faces were made with a button die from PTI. Ears and paws are actually from die cut flower petals.  I flocked the inner petals with white flock, and spritzed them with a homemade pink glimmer mist.

 

Here is a close up view, so you can see what I put inside these boxes.  I love the way these turned out!

Thanks for visiting!

Tues. Mar. 15, 2011 CR84FN18

I loved the colors in the challenge at CR84FN last Tuesday, which were orange, yellow and kraft and so I entered this card into  challenge 18.  I used Gina K's "Tropical Windows" stamp set.  I colored with Memento markers and a spritz of water for the watercolor effect. That's it for today--I think-Hahahaha.

Mon. Mar. 14, 2011 STVSKSP17

Happy Monday morning!  It is Sketch challenge day at StampTV.  Here is the sketch we are working with this week.

The colors I used ended up so different from where I started.  In fact, the one in my head is REALLY different. LOL.  How funny that this ended up being is one I really like a lot more!

The images (colored with Copics) are from Melanie's "Candles on your Cake" stamp set!

I'll be back tomorrow with another card!

Sun. Mar. 13, 2011

Hi to you all! I hope you are all having a wonderful day!

My card today is one that came together quickly. I just recently got this new Nestie and I love it!  The focal point was stamped with a little stamp set I received from my Secret Sister. The sentiment is from Papertrey, which I heat embossed with Distressed EP (also from my secret sis), was stamped over the little leaves and flowers.  I have wanted to try this EP and I like that it isn't shiny like regular EP.
Well- here is my card for today.

Enjoy your day!

3/12/2011 Speedy the Cat Blog Challenge

This week, our challenge from Susan was to make a lime and gray card, with only one layer.

 My focal image is from the Mark's Finest Papers new release called "Just Dandy".  I framed the dandelions with the circle image from MFPs "Flourishes and Frame" stamp set, heat embossed with white EP.

  My card base is gray cs,  and I stamped butterflies with Versamark and heat set with clear EP. These butterflies are also from the Just Dandy set. I then sponged over the butterflies with Distress ink. I added a bow and the button to finish off the card!

Thank you for stopping by!

CSS Color Challenge Hop

I am glad that you are back to see what the Center Stage Alumni team has for you this time around.  If you arrived from Joy's blog, you are in the right place.  If you would like to start at the beginning, click HERE.

Our challenge is to create a card or project based on the following color combination:

Boy, oh boy- I love these colors!!!! and couldn't wait to create with them.  My card is a 4.25" square.  I CB'd the Soft Sand card stock, and then layered a Nestie.  The image is from Gina K's  "You are not Alone" stamp set. I colored the flowers with Memento markers and then spritzed with water to give the watercolor effect.

The two pearls were tinted with a Copic marker.

 PLAY ALONG FOR A CHANCE TO WIN-

Create and upload a new project for this challenge and it can only be entered into this challenge on StampTV to be eligible for a prize. However, you can use it for challenges outside of StampTV. If you use Gina K. Designs stamps, your name will go into the pot twice.

Please have your project uploaded to the gallery  at StampTV using keyword STVCSP15 by 8:00 PM central time, Thursday night, March 17th.

Friday, March 18th, we will announce a randomly chosen winner from all of the entries who will win any Gina K. Designs stamp set valued up to $24.95.

Use keyword STVCSP15

Thank you for joining in our hop, now head over to Linda Payne's blog to see her gorgeous creation. 

Fri. March 11, 2011 MFP Blog Hop

Welcome to the MFP March Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


Our New Sets are: Just Dandy, African Veldt, Grandma's Boudoir, and Fish You Were Here.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!


What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.



FRIDAY, March 11, 2011-Fish You Were Here

Emily-

Karen-

Patty-

Roxie-

Vicki-

Liz:

Claudine-

Joanne T.

Dawn-

Nicole -

Marilynn-

Peggysue-

Connie –

Emily N.-

Neva

Silvia

Patricia

Chrissy

Guest Designer, Ted

Mark’s Finest Papers

My card today showcases images from "Grandma's Boudoir" stamp set.

OLW # 44 Pinterest inspiration

I have another card to share today.  This one is for the One Layer Wednesday Challenge #44. We were to look HERE for inspiration.  This is the photo I chose.

Here is my card, made mostly by sponging and masking.  The sentiment is from Melanie's "Where the Heart is" stamp set.

Thurs. 3/10/11 MFP Release Hop Grandma's Boudoir

Welcome to the MFP March Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


Our New Sets are: Just Dandy, African Veldt, Grandma's Boudoir, and Fish You Were Here.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!


What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.



Thursday, February 10, 2011-Grandma's Boudior

Lois

Vicky

Anne

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki

Liz

Claudine

Dawn M

Nicole

Marilynn

Geri

Lynn

Neva

Silvia

Guest Designer, Ted

Mark’s Finest Papers

Now, Here is my card, using this versatile stamp set. I wanted to use just one of the sentiments on the front.  The inside was stamped with: Like Antiques!  Happy Birthday Antique!

So glad you stopped by!

Wed. March 9, 2011 MFP Blog Hop

Welcome to the MFP March Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


Our New Sets are: Just Dandy, African Veldt, Grandma's Boudoir, and Fish You Were Here.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY! My card is pictured below.

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!


What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2011-African Veldt



Lois

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Peggysue

Connie

Joanne T.

Claudine

Dawn M.

Nicole

Marilynn

Geri

Lynn

Emily N.

Patricia

Chrissy

Guest Designer, Ted

Mark’s Finest Papers

My card for today uses the butterfly and a sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers "Just Dandy" stamp set.

Tues. 3/8/2011 MFP Blog Hop

Welcome to the MFP March Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


Our New Sets are: Just Dandy, African Veldt, Grandma's Boudoir, and Fish You Were Here.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!


What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

TUESDAY March 8, 2011- Just Dandy

Lois
Vicky
Dawn L.
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Joanne T.
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Emily N.
Neva
Silvia
Patricia
Chrissy
Guest Designer Ted
Mark’s Finest Papers


The card I made to show you today uses the "Just Dandy" stamp set. There are so many wonderful stamps in this set. I used kraft cs for my card base with additional touch of dark brown.  I heat embossed the dandelions with white EP onto my oval.  The sentiment is from this set as well.  Thank you for visiting!

Play Date Cafe' Challenge PDCC71

This is the first time I have entered a challenge for Play Date Cafe', and I really liked this color challenge. This is my second post for today, but I needed to get this entry in on time.
We are to use Black and White  with a Limited Use of Color, so without further adieu...

The image is from Mark's Finest Papers "Grandma's Boudoir" stamp set which will be available on 3/8/2011. The pretty ribbon and bow is some lovely dyed seam binding I received from my Secret Sister!
Thank you for stopping by!

Mon. Mar. 7, 2011 STVSKSP16

Today is sketch Monday at StampTV, and I struggled a little cutting these triangles. But I wasn't going to give up!

Here is my card, using an image and sentiment from Nina's Lovely Shelf stamp set. I colored the image with Copics.

So happy you came by to visit!

Sun. Mar. 6, 2011 MFP Sneak Peek

The card and box I want to share with you today was entered into the JUGS Challenge #73 last Thursday.  I used images from the soon-to-be released "Grandma's Boudoir" stamp set, available Tues. at Mark's Finest Paper.  I paper pieced the chair, and colored the rest with Copic markers.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Sat. March 5, 2011 MFP Challenge # 45

Fellow Speedy the Cat DT member, Colleen, challenged us to use bleach.  I bleached the butterfly images from the soon -to-be released "Just Dandy" stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers. I stamped 6 of them, cutting out 3 to pop up for dimension. I added faux stitching around my circle die cut. I used the CB Swiss Dots folder.  I used the back side after I sponged lightly with Distress ink, since I wanted purple with white dots, not the other way around.

Please join us HERE to play along with this technique challenge.

Thanks for visiting!

Fri. Mar. 4, 2011 STVCSP14

It's Friday- yippee!!!  It's also time for another color challenge at StampTV. This was a tough combination for me this time around.  Luckily I found a piece of dp in my scrap box that helped me put it all together. (I think!)

Here's my creation, using the gorgeous horse from Theresa's "Out West" stamp set.  The inside will have the needed sentiment, when it's time to mail it out.
I braided some black cording as an accent to keep the black color in balance. It's difficult to see here, but I added Clear Star pen to the buckles on the bridle.

Well- do you think it worked?

PTI Make It Monday #4

This challenge at Papertrey was to use fun foam on our card, cut with one of their dies.  I used the Button die and went crazy for the look of this.  Each button was stamped with PTI 's Bitty Background blocks.  At first I was going to mount them on white cs, but loved them with the black cs instead!  I think it's a really happy card!

Thurs. Mar. 3, 2011 Thanks Cuz!

Today is my cousin's birthday.  She is an artist and is very talented. Her paintings are fabulous!  I was her flower girl over 50 years ago.

She now lives in North Carolina, and I haven't seen her since they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary 2 1/2 years ago.  You may be wondering why I'm telling you this. 
Well, about 5 years ago I decided to make a birthday card for her. Since she is an artist, I wanted it to be very special!  So I headed off to Michael's to get some "stuff".  I bought a box of folded cs, some dp and a bunch of  those gorgeous 3D stickers (by Jolene, I think).  I bought a little artist, a little paint palette, some paintbrush stickers, etc. When I checked out I was way over $20 for that card. She loved it BTW, but I figured I could make cards for way less than that. So, after spending thou$and$ filling up my studio- I believe I can make a birthday card for less.  Are you laughing along with me here?

I mailed her card on Monday, so am waiting to hear how she likes the one I made for her this year!
I owe Dottie many thanks for spurring me into the hobby/addiction I now have.  Really- I am so grateful to be practicing my creativity and to have so many new online friends through crafting! Thank you followers!!!!!

Now onto today's card.  It is a sneak peek of a new Mark's Finest Papers stamp set, called "Just Dandy".  It is being released Tues 3/8/2011, during the hop! It also was for the SCS Challenge SC322. It's difficult to see here, but the dandelion was heat embossed in gold. The bg panel was made using the rubber band and brayer technique and Distress inks.

I appreciate you visiting today!