Butterfly

Hi there! Gina K Designs Stamp TV has a challenge on that requires some kind of "hole" in the card that is any shape, and it can be punched, die cut or hand cut. I created a card similar to this during one of the Online Card Classes quite some time ago, and it came to mind for this challenge.

I die cut the butterfly in the Gina K Designs Pure Luxury White card base. Using a mask the shape of the butterfly on the inside, I sponged Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers and Spiced Marmalade. Finally, I added pearls and the sentiment on the front. That's it--that's all it took to create this beautiful card. I love the colors and I like the shape of the butterfly. Hope you do, too!

Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate your visits and comments very much. Hope you're having a good day!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday 247

Well, here it is. Wednesday again. That week went fast! It's time for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday 247 from Stamping Ground. I don't have much that's exciting to look at this week. Most of it you've seen before, but I wanted to point out that wooden box my yellow ATG Gun is in. A dear friend of mine, Darius Kepley, built that for me while I was scrapbooking with his wife, Geraldine. I mentioned a need for something to keep it in, and next thing I knew, Darius had built the box! He's like that -- a very dear "giver" in life.

I still have out my collection of stamping blocks, all stacked up. I have the Staz-On Ink sitting out because I used it to stamp one of the words from the collection you see from Stampin Up. I was using vellum, and always have good luck with Staz-On with that. I had also tried out my new Savvy Cityscape die, which you can see in black. And yes, those are big hearts on the table, still out from Valentine's Day. I thought maybe I could use them on a card I make this week. Who knows? And, last but not least, you can see a scrap piece of paper full of flowers I stamped using Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life stamps and inks. I never get tired of stamping flowers!

Hope you are having a good week! I appreciate your visits and comments very much. Take it easy, stay dry and keep warm!

Gold Again

Here's another card for the Go for the Gold Challenge at Mod Squad. I got restless today, and while looking through my paper stack found another piece that would work perfect for this challenge.

As you can see, I gold embossed the image and sentiment, both of which are from Gina K Designs. The paper is from SEI Field Notes 6 x 6 paper pack, and the gems are from my stash.

Hope you like it! I appreciate your visits and comments very much. Hope you're having a good Sunday, and I'll see you again soon!

Go for the Gold!

It's time to post a card for the Mod Squad Challenge! This week the requirement is to include something Gold. This is in reference to the Olympic Games that are currently going on, and everybody's "Going for the Gold."

I found some paper in my stash-- SEI Field Notes 6 x 6 paper pack--and inside was this glorious piece of gold and black, just right for my card! I gold embossed a floral image (from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life) and sentiment (from Gina K Designs) onto vellum and attached it to the top with a gold brad. I layered this onto black so you could see it better, then I added a black ribbon. All of this was placed onto an Ivory card base.

Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate your visits and comments very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. Have a great weekend!

Flowers & Gingham

Hello! So glad you're here today! Here in North Carolina, the weather is beautiful--warm and sunny. That's nice after a day of hard rain and wind. The good thing about it was I had an afternoon inside, doing nothing but crafting. WooHoo!

This week's Paper a la Mode Challenge at The Outlawz is to create something that includes flowers. I could do that any day...until it's for a specific challenge. Then, I get stuck! This is only my second week as a DT for them, so I wanted it to be better than good. That put on the pressure even more. Why do we make simple tasks so difficult? If you're like me, I've got to over-think the process before actually getting it done. Go figure. Makes no sense, I know.

I created this card using Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life inks and stamps. Her stamps are always fun, and the inks are super, as you can see. The gingham paper is from one of the patterned paper packs at Gina K Designs. She has top quality products which I also love. I combined products from both companies and surprise! It worked amazingly well. I was amazed how well the gingham paper matched the flowers. For the final touch on the card, I wrapped some green and white Baker's Twine around the card. No bling on this one. Just Clean and Simple. That seems to be my style.

Thank you for stopping by! I enjoy your visits and comments very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. Have a good weekend!

WOYWW 246

Hello again! I almost forgot it was time for What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday over at The Stamping Ground. The whole day has passed and I've been busy doing chores instead of spending time at my table, creating.

The card you see was posted earlier. It's a card I created after seeing an example on Facebook. I used a lot of products from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life, including stamps, dies and inks. When I'm using her stamps, I like to use her inks, which are fabulous, especially for solid images. You can see how well they show up on the card, even though it's from a distance. You can also see my clear stamping blocks from Stampin Up! I love those. There's one for every size needed, and they all fit real snug in a case. You can browse the rest of the stuff I have out and see I have just about anything needed to create a card.

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your visits and comments very much. We learn from each other, and that's what keeps us going. Take care and have a good week!

Hello My Friend

Hello Friends! Hope your week is going well. I created this card after seeing a similar version of it on Facebook. My banners are bigger and have different designs on them, and the Washi Tape on the left is different, too. The sentiment, banners, inks and dies came from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life. She has a lot of fun products that are not too expensive. Now you can get dies with the stamps, too.

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments and your visits very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. Enjoy your week!

Quilt

Hello! How's your Monday coming along? I am so glad to see some sunshine outside I can hardly stand it!

I created this card for the Curtain Call challenge, where the inspiration was a quilt.

I cut 1-1/4 squares (using a Creative Memories square paper punch) from the Miss Caroline Dolled Up Designer Cardstock Paper Pack. Using one paper pack for all of them assured me the pieces would go together. After placing them by 3's, I placed the DREAM sticker across the page and added half a doily above it that included tiny roses (stickers) in the center. Finally, I added some cotton lace on the card.

This card was a little out of my comfort zone (again) but I kept working with it until it had the sort of old-time feeling I was going for. My grandmother used to quilt, along with several aunts of mine. I've kept a couple of their quilts in my home, and they fill me with positive memories of good times with my family.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your visits and your comments very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey.

Doodle Flowers

Hello! Everybody staying warm and dry? I have been without Internet all week, so this is my first card posted since our Ice Storm last week here in North Carolina.

Gina K Designs Stamp TV has a challenge to create a card that includes some kind of doodling on it. I'm not a "doodler" so it didn't come easy. The card, however, was fun to create. I used a Small Madison Window die from Poppy Stamps Inc and a Sizzix Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and  Large Scallop Edgelit to create a Valence. For paper across the bottom, I selected a red and white gingham pattern from Gina K Designs. The images are created with Gina K Designs Vogue Vases stamps by Theresa Momber and colored with Copic markers. I doodled a little on the vases using a White Signo Pen.

I am also entering this card into Mod Squad Challenge, where the instructions were to include flowers. That's easy, since I love flowers and include them on most of my cards!

This card was started just before our power went out, so I took the next several days to add a little here and there until I was happy with it when the lights came back on. That's called a Work In Progress, I think!

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your visits and your comments very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. Hope you're having a good weekend!

Love & Glitter

Hi again! How are you today? We are awaiting another winter storm, so I've immersed myself into cardmaking to ignore the forecast. Gotta think about something positive, right?

There's another opportunity to win some goodies at the Mod Squad Challenge. The requirements are to make a card that includes a heart and some glitter. Well, that's easy this time of year! I saw this design on Facebook and decided to try it for my submission.

First, I embossed the red cardstock with a honeycomb embossing folder, added different embossed piece in white (using Stampin Up Embossing Folder) and then added a thin pink border. Using Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life dies, I cut banners that were stamped with hearts and strung those across the top using Baker's Twine and tied on the ends. Heart-shaped brads were inserted into each banner.  Finally, I added the "love" sentiment and a string of pearls before layering some punched hearts topped off with glitter. All of this was layered onto a white card base.

All cardstock is from Gina K Designs.
Banners and sentiment are from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life.
Hearts were punched with Anna Griffin Heart Punch.

Gina's Birthday

Hi everybody! How's your weekend? We are celebrating Gina K's birthday over at Gina K Designs Stamp TV, so this is a card I designed to celebrate.

Using the Lean On Me stamp set by Gina K Designs, I stamped the floral image in red, navy and pink before adding green leaves. Then, I added the sentiment on a strip that went across the middle. After wondering if more was needed, I decided Less is Best, so I stuck with this very CAS card.

I love the burst of flowers coming forth on the card! Such a great image for a great occasion. I appreciate your visit and your comments very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. See you again soon!

Design Team!!!

 

I made it! I'm a Member of The Outlawz Paper a la Mode Design Team! WooHoo!

For my first card as a Design Team Member, I am posting this submission using a Rick St. Dennis Digi.

The sentiment is from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life. I used paper from gcd's Animal Fanatic Collection Pack. It is full of cats and dogs, which I felt would be appropriate for this post. The image is from Rick St. Dennis Digis, one of my first attempts at using a digital image for a card. I added some heart gems since the Challenge Twist was Valentine's, and wrapped a ribbon around the card. I also added a small pearl at the center of the bow around the cat's neck.

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your visit and love your comments, too! They help me move forward on this creative journey. Have a good weekend!

Got Coffee?

I created this card for the Curtain Call Challenge...my first time there. I used paper from Studio Calico's Classic Calico 6 x 6 paper pad. This is the paper my son gave me for Christmas, which means it's **Extra Special** and I use it for Extra Special cards.

This stamp set is from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life, and I just LOVE it! Who doesn't like coffee? or Hot Chocolate?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon. Thank you for your visits and your comments -- they keep me moving forward on this creative journey.

Bird Cages Up Close

Hello! Hope everybody is having a good day! I thought I'd post this birdcage card so you could see it up close. Some of you may have seen it on my WOYWW post from afar but it wasn't a close-up. I worked on this card for several weeks, not sure how to get a sentiment on it. I liked the card just fine without it but then I had a need for a Thank You card, so that was the answer. With the vellum, you can still see some of the patterned paper behind it. The strip across the bottom is one of my favorite ribbons. The images are from Stampin Up's Aviary set.

I really like this card, and I hope you do, too. I like the colors, the birdcages, birds and the ribbon. What stands out to you?

Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciate your visits and love your comments! They keep me moving forward on this creative journey.

Wild Card!

Hi again! I created a rather wild card here to meet the Color Challenge at The Outlawz. We were to use Purple, Pink and Turquoise. I put those together in layers and also added some black in the sentiment and also the Washi Tape.  This was a fun card to create but I admit, it was a little bit outside of my comfort zone. That can be a good thing. I keep looking at it to decide if I like it or not...still thinking.

The sentiment and images are from an old Stampin Up! set, like 2006. I've got a lot of old sets I just cannot let go of! This is obviously one of them.

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments and your visits very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. Have a good day!

WOYWW 244

Hi there! Guess what day it is...again? Wednesday! Time for What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday at Stamping-Ground.blogspot.com. I tried to cheat first and only take (somewhat of) a close-up but then I felt like it wasn't fair to the rest of those who are showing the "real thing" for this challenge.

As you can see, I've been working on two cards and preparing to work on another. The card with the birdcages was created in part several months ago, but I wasn't sure how to finish it until yesterday. I had to get a sentiment on there, so I added a piece of vellum with Thanks So Much that was heat-embossed in white. Because it's vellum, you can see some of the background patterned paper. This paper was a gift from my former sister-in-law a couple of years ago. I feel it is so special I can't waste any of it; therefore, I only use it on special cards. I love this Stampin Up! Aviary set. I used to have a pet parakeet, and the images remind me of that period of my youthful life.

The card with the hearts is for a color challenge at The Outlawz. We were to use Purple, Pink and Turquoise. I added some black for the hearts and some of the elements. I added a large brad for the "O" in Love at the bottom of the card. The Washi Tape matches the button.

All the inks that are out are for my next card, which will be a Birthday card for a male. I like the colors of brown and blue together for a guy, so I pulled out the inks to get ready for that. Wish me luck! (The red ink? Why is it out? I just seem to be reaching for it frequently, so I leave it out most of the time.)

You can tell what the rest of the stuff is. I really didn't mean for the cards to be the focus, but looking at those is better than looking at the rest of the mess around it!

Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your visits and comments VERY much! Take it easy and have a good day!

XOXO

Hello again! I am submitting this card to The Outlawz Paper a la Mode challenge that has the theme of XOXO-HUGS AND KISSES-XOXO. I love creating cards of this nature, so I immediately went to my stamps and ink. Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life has the stamp set called Sampler2Love that includes the images you see here. I love the set--so versatile, with lots of options! I used colors of the rainbow for the banners, and then stamped the XOXO image in red. All the banners have been stamped and die cut before adding to the card.

After looking around at other challenges, I have decided to enter this card to Stampin Celebration SCIC #75, as well. They have several inspiration photos that include a rainbow of hearts, which made me think of this card. This is my first time entering this challenge, but I hope to do well.

Hope you had a nice day! I appreciate your comments and your visits very much, as they keep me moving forward on this creative journey. See you again soon!

Photo Card

Here's a very large card for you! My challenge at Gina K Designs was to include some reference to photos on the card. I don't have a stamp of a camera that's from Gina K, so I used some dies to cut references to photographs and then actually attached a photograph to the Photo Frame die cut.

Now, to tell you the deep meaning behind the card...

The flowers in the photograph are some that showed up the day I returned from caring for my ailing father. He had had a major stroke and was in serious condition. It had been hard to leave him 500 miles away, but I felt better immediately upon seeing these roses at my home. I felt an angel had appeared to reassure me everything would be all right, if I would just learn to "enjoy the sunshine" in my days despite my troubles. The sentiment comes from a stamp by Gina K Designs Enjoy the Sunshine set.

I added glitter from my glitter pen throughout the butterflies and small dragonflies, which is meant to reflect rays of sunshine. I also added purple ribbon from Gina K Designs to show darkness (in our lives). The punched green flourishes reflect happiness and growth (despite our challenges on dark days). The bling of rhinestones were included to add light among the darkness, demonstrating the light we must find in our lives.

Deep, huh? I get that way at times. As a writer, I can go on and on, finding meaning in everything. If you look at my other blog, sharonsfavwritings.blogspot.com, you can read about my experience sitting with my ailing father ("Called to Care") and other such moments in life. Take a look! I'll try to update my posts soon so it's not "old" stuff.

Thanks for taking a look at this new card. It took a while to put together. I wasn't sure I liked it until I reflected on the meaning of the elements. Then, it became a favorite!

I appreciate your visits and comments, and I especially appreciate those of you who follow me! That really makes my day! Take it easy, stay warm, dry, and don't forget to Enjoy the Sunshine!

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Just wanted to say Happy Groundhog's Day today!