It's Friday Already

And time for Friends with Flair at Unity   This image and sentiment are from the Ippity set "Your Friendship, My Cup Of Tea".

I used the tag sketch at The Craft's Meow

The BG paper is from an old stack.  I cut out one of the flowers and leaf , added a brad for the embellishment.

Challenges:
Unity Friends with Flair
Unity Opportunity - use bright colors
Unity Stamp Co - Summer
Stamptacular - colors
Incy Wincy - anything

A Happy Summer Greeting

This stamp set by The Craft's Meow  is such a fun set to play with. Doesn't it just make you feel happy?   The first time I used it, I paper pieced the trees.  This time I paper pieced the clouds and the little banners.
 Love the tire swing.  We had a tire swing for our kids and now one for our grand children. (In fact one of my sons broke both arms jumping from the swing when he was 5.  I tell the story to all my grand children hoping to put some fear into them !) 
 

 Have a GREAT day and a Happy Summer.

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - banners
Stamptacular Sunday - color challenge
ODBD - three or more stamps (4)
Incy Wincy - anything
Ribbon Carousel - piecing
Clear it Out - 2 ribbons (ruffles green,twine

Two Bits

My mom had a Dachshund for many years.  His name was Two Bits. Every time I see a Dachsy, I think of him.  I love the images in the Paper and Such set "Patriots and Friends".  I'm a sucker for dogs and cats anyway, and especially puppies and kittens.  My daughter just added two more puppies to her family of  5 kids, 5 chickens, and a dog. (and no, she does not have acreage.) She brought the puppies over to my house when I took care of her children and two more of my grandchildren one day last week.  Quite a houseful of activity that day.  I grabbed a few shots of the kids and puppies.  Here are a couple:

Aren't they just so cute?  (puppies and girls !)
Okay, enough of the grandma bit.  Here is my card.

I paper pieced the puppy onto some vanilla CS just distressing the edges a bit.  The striped paper is from an autumn stack from years ago and the ribbon is SU which I have had about 10 years.  Base is Kraft CS by Kraft Outlet..
 Tuesday Morning Sketch 

Challenges:
Incy Wincy - anything
Ribbon Carousel - piecing
Wags n Whiskers - use Kraft
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - coffee and cream
Paper and Such - dogs
Kraft Journal - anything

Butterflies in Blue

Always fun to play around with a new stamp set.  For this card I used my new set "God's Love"  by Our Daily Bread Design.  I really love these words - how amazing that God loves us and loves us this way !
  I don't have the individual butterfly that goes with the "God's Love" set but it now is definitely on my wish list so I can pop that on instead of the butterfly that I used which is "Butterfly Corner" by ODBD.

The two small butterflies are punched out with Martha Stewart punch.
Paper is Mind's Eye , Kraft by Kraft Outlet, Bashful Blue by SU.

Challenges:
Pile It On - make own embellishments
Wags n Whiskers - Kraft
Incy Wincy - anything
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - coffee and cream colors
Clear It Out - anthing and two ribbons
 Word Art - scripture or encouragement
ODBD - 3 or more stamps on front
Kraft Outlet - anything

How About Another CASE

 It is another card for the challenge at  Designed2Delight .
This time I CASEd Michelle's card.   First my card.

The card I copied;

 The image and sentiment I used are D2D digitals,.
There are Stickles in the center of flowers and on the butterflies.  Used Liquid Pearls on two flowers.
I like using these little flower brads on cards with whimsical flowers. 

Challenges:
Sweet n Sassy Digi Challenge - bling
Hotshots - die cuts
Love to Create - anything
Incy Wincy - anything
Digital Tuesday - animals

Just a Line or Two or More

One of the first digital companies that I became familiar with was Designed2Delight.  I wasn't sure I would like using digitals but now I love them.  This cute image is by D2D and I added the sentiment.  D2D is having a CASE challenge. This is my card, a simple cas card.

I made the three flowers to look like the cone flowers in the digital image.
And this is the card I CASEd:

Challenges:
Designed2Delight
Pile It On - make own embellishments
Love to Create - anything
Stamp and Create - bold and bright
Mark's Finest - score lines
StampTV - tickled pink
Crafty Cardmakers - make own flowers
Incy Wincy - anything

It's a Grand Old Flag

This month flew by which means it is almost July !!!  This card reminds me of  the 4th of July.  I used the beautiful pre-colored digital flag (and sentiment) by Doodle Pantry.  The papers are digital papers by Gina K Designs.  This is my last piece of star "ribbon".  It was in a package of ribbons at a bargain store.  Wish I knew where to get more.

The sketch is the challenge sketch at Operation Write Home .  Doodle Pantry is sponsoring the challenge this week and giving away 3 digital images of your choice to the winner.  You have until June 30th to play.
I do hope you will hop over to OWH.  What a great organization. The U.S. is a mess and I  hate so much that is going on but I still love America.  It is so important to support our troops.  This is one small way we can do that.  What a great, proud feeling I get every time I  take another box of cards addressed to OWH  to the post office.  I know it will bring encouragement to our heroes and/or the family members.
Here is the sketch:

 Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - flags and banners
Ribbon Carousel - use metal
Stamp and Create - bold and bright
Really Reasonable Ribbon - red, white, blue
DYSU - movie    Airforce One
Love to Create - anything
Incy Wincy - anything

MFT Sketch and Pieces

When I get into the mood to stamp and make a card (okay, I confess that is almost every day) I often stamp several images or print off several digital images.  Then I end up with a pile of unused pieces. I have some sitting on my work space for months, not knowing what I am going to use them for.   So I am trying to use those up.  I am finding it is challenging because I don't really have anything in mind when I start but as I go through some of the sketch challenges, I usually find something that will work. 
That is how this card came about.  I will send it to one of our heroes via Operation Write Home.

The sketch:

I did a technique I had never tried before and that is using a brayer over an embossed layer.
The  brass button is an old button out of my button box.
Image is ODBD "Not Forgotten"
It is crazy how colors "change" in a photo.  The cardstock is the same color as the image but you would never know it from this photo.

Challenges:
 Really Reasonable Ribbon - red, white, blue
Craft 4 Eternity - masculine
DYSU - movie or TV program  I love the movie Great Escape and yes, I watch Netflix while I am making cards.  Really liked the English series Foyle's War
Ribbon Carousel - use metal 
Clear It Out - anything plus two ribbons  I hope twine counts !

Strawberries - YUMMMMM

Yesterday evening I  had my first bowl of strawberries from my strawberry patch.  I love strawberry season.  Now if I can just stay ahead of the grandchildren.  They have the habit of raiding the patch.  But hopefully there will be an abundance and there will be enough for everyone's hearts desires.

There are several challenges with the theme of Summer and  Summer fun.  That means strawberries.  I used the sketch at Sweet Stop .  The challenge was to use the sketch with a spin - texture.  The background paper by Doodle Pantry reminds me not only of strawberry blossoms but of the crisscross containers that berries sometimes come in.  Even though you can't see it in the picture, I scored each of the lines so that they are raised. Then I added some mesh which reminds me of the cartons.

The main image is a digital by Designed2Delight.  Three blossom clusters down the side are by Daisy Doodles and the sentiment is a stamp by GKD.


Challenges:
Love to Create - summertime fun
Stamp and Create - bright and bold
Clear it Out - anything goes
Our Daily Bread - summertime
Clearly i Stamp - fruity
Hotshot Crafts - use die cuts
Stampin Sisters in Christ - what reflects me   fruit of the Spirit
Raise the Bar - summer

This is How I Feel

We are all getting a little down in this part of the country because of all our dreary, rainy days.  The Pacific NW is known for rain but this is way more than we usually have. Gray skies and pouring down rain day after day does get old and discouraging.
Yesterday was Father's Day so I was missing my dad.  And my husband is working out of the States so I was missing him.  So the image on this card is the way I felt yesterday.

I used the MFT sketch

Well, I know today will be different.  No, the sun is not shining.  It is still gray, cloudy, and raining.  My husband is still gone.  BUT this is a new day that God has given me and I am glad for it.  And besides, I will be taking care of two precious grandchildren today.  How can that not lift the spirit ?


The Fine Print:  The challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ is to create a card that reflects me.  The intent of the challenge was to create a card that reflects me as a Masterpiece of God.  This card is a reflection of how I was feeling yesterday.   I am  so aware that God loves me and that I am valuable to Him.  Without Him I would be living UNDER the circumstances.  But with God as my Father and knowing He has my best interest in mind, I can get through these tough times victoriously.  So, I'm done now with the downer and onto a great day and if I enter another card into the SSCC challenge, it will be a reflection of the real me - a child of God.

Challenges:
Craft 4 Eternity -cards for men or boys
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - brown and cream
DYSU - cards for men or boys
Stampin Sisters in Christ - reflection of me

A Thank You From Washington

For this card, I used one of Sandy Allnock's digital images created for OWH.  You can find some of these wonderful digis here .  Just make sure you use them for OWH mail.  I love our Rhododendron bushes - so many colors and so showy.  We have about 15 bushes of various colors, not to mention the Azaleas.

Here is the sketch I used for the My Favorite Things Challenges:

 Sentiment is Verve

Challenges:
MFT sketch at SCS
Crafty Friends - flowers
Simon Says - photo inspiration
Hotshot Crafts - die cuts
Sundays with Crissy - tags

Old Fashioned Rules

Sometimes you just have to break the rules - like "don't combine checks and spots".   I don't think we follow those fashion rules as much anymore and I'm sure they don't apply to cards and especially if checks and dots are both on the Designer Paper!  Isn't this beautiful DP.  It is digital by Doodle Pantry .  So is the image.

The papers are from the  SeaBuckhorn digital set and the image is from the Buttercup set.  I colored the flowers with pencils and then added Key Lime Liquid Pearls in the centers.
You can find both sets at Doodle Pantry and click over to the challenge  to play along and receive the Kite Ants set just for playing.  
This is the sketch I used at Sweet Sketch Wednesday

Other Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - image, no sentiment
Crafty Friends - flowers
Craft Your Passion - anything
Simon Says - photo inspiration
Hotshot Crafts - die cuts
DigiDesign - spots and dots

Pretty in Pink

Several years ago, I pulled most of my rubber stamps off their wood blocks so I could use them with acrylic blocks and store them in less space.  But I failed to make note of some of the designer/company names.  So I cannot tell your who made this cute stamp.  If anyone knows, I would love it if you would tell me in the comment section  so I can give credit and record it with my stamps.  Thanks.

The sentiments are Verve.  The sketch is CPS 269.  I used some scraps from "shaving cream" paper for the banners.
Pink papers - GKD Bubblegum Pink and SU Pink Passion

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - show action
Pile It On - outdoors
Craft Your Passion - anything
Stamp and Create - bold and bright
Great Impressions - die cuts
Hotshot Craft - die cuts
CPS

Some Times Are Hard

The quote on this card is only part of the story.  Not only does God understand our prayers when we don't know what or how to pray, His Holy Spirit actually intercedes for us ( Romans 8: 26-27)   I like to think of it as Him filling in the blanks. Just one of the many ways He helps us.
This quote and the flower are by Our Daily Bread Design.  I stamped the flower, cut it out with the coordinating die cuts, then rolled the petals in different dirrections.

The background is a SU BG stamp Filigree

Challenges
Craft Your Passion - anything
Marks Finest Papers - black, white, color
Memas Craft - words only
Great Impressions - die cuts
Hot Shots - die cuts
ODBD - new, old, gifted, blue  new stamp, old stamp, blue flower, gifted die cut
Word Art - scripture or uplifing quote

Welcome Summer

Is summer here yet?  Not in this area. Ugh!  One of the coldest, wettest springs ever.
 So I say Hello, Summer.  You are welcome anytime!
This is the card I created as a Guest Bar-Tender for Raise the Bar .  Such a cheery stamp set by The Crafts Meow.

Tree tops are paper pieced.  The rest of the image is done with pencils.  Sky was made with chalks.
Challenges:
Pile It On - outdoors
DYSU - outdoors
Wags n/ Whiskers - paper piecing
Our Daily Bread Desing - something old, new, gifted, blue old buttons, new pencils, stamps set I won, blue sky
Craft Your Passion - anything
Stamp and Create - bold and bright

Fun To Do List

What a fun, simple card this was to make.  My favorite kind!
 I used my new Unity/Ippity set  "Do What Makes You Happy" that  was in my winning package of goodies  for one of the Chick Challenges. (Thank you Lisa).  A Father's Day card?   a Birthday card?  You choose.  It works for both I think.

Kraft Chevron paper - My Minds Eye

Challenges:  Friends with Flair
Pile It On - father's day with button
Craft Your Passion - chevrons
Crafty Cardmakers - distress
Mark's Finest - buttons
The Cat's Meow - June sketch
Unity Opportunity - red

Majestic Eagle

We live in an area of the country where there are quite a few bald eagles.  I love to see them soaring over our fields or sitting in a tree near our property.  They are so majestic, so fierce, so powerful, and HUGE when you see them up close.  I don't like what is happening to our country.  My prayer is that the USA will continue to live up to the characteristics of this symbol.
This is a pre-colored digital image by Doodle Pantry. 

 Here is the Card Patterns sketch I used:

I made the background by stamping with one of the star stamps from the GKD set called "Stars".  Embossed them with white EP and then ran the cardstock through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dot embossing folder.
The gold stars are wood stars that I painted with gold paint and then added gems.
Striped paper is GKD digital paper.
I think this will be a great card to send to one of our heroes via OWH expressing my gratitude for his/ her service. 

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - stars
Crafty Cardmakers - distress
Party Time Tuesday - gems
Card Patterns - sketch 
Simon Says - gems

One last thing - don't forget to check out the new release at Doodle Pantry and play the challenge too.

Daddy and Me

It has been several years since my dad passed away.  I called him Daddy even though I was 60 when he died. I still miss him.  This is a card I would have loved to have given him, a card that I could write a personal note in.  The pocket card is a great way to write a short note and make it special.  Maybe one of my kids are grandkids will want to use it for their dad on Father's Day.

Paper: Kraft Fun day Every Fun by My Minds Eye, SU Really Red
Stamps: Unity/Ippity "Authentic Man

Challenges:
Chick Challenge - sketch
Father's Day and button
Crafty Cardmaker - distress
Unity Opportunity - use red
Mark's Finest - button

Sweet Girl and Her Bear

It is Tuesday again and that means another card as Guest Designer for Digital Tuesday  where the challenge is Anything Goes.  This week Digital Delights is the sponsor.  Here is Penny and Her Teddy, a digital by Digital Delights. .
When my children were very young, I made teddy bears in all colors for them.  One of my daughters still has her mint green teddy.  (Poor teddy is 30 years old and looks very loved).  So Penny's teddy turned out blue for this card.

I chose these specific colors for the color challenge at Blog Named Hero. 
The pinks blend in real life.
The flower is stamped onto Dp, cut out with matching die cut, and then I curled the petals.
I have a rickrack die cut but these two strips are real rickrack from my mom's stash. 

Sketch:

Other challenges:
 Crafty Friends - flowers
Simon Says - anything
Really Reasonable Ribbon - flowers and ribbon
Great Impressions - die cuts
Hotshot Craft - die cuts
Cutie Pie - die cuts

Dinosaur Gone Dotty

Here is one of the dino digitals by Zenware.  This time I printed him/her on a textured paper.  All the little dots are raised.   Sentiment was done on the computer.  What a fun digital.

I made the scallop border by using my rickrack die cut but just used the edge piece instead of the rickrack itself.
Challenges:
Blog Named Hero - logo colors
Cutie Pie - die cuts
Crafty Creations - circles
Simon Says - anything
Hotshot Craft- die cuts
Mark's Finest Papers - buttons
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - color inspiration

Being Brave

Can you believe it?  I tried three new techniques this week.  Now, no more fear of those.  This card features the Paper Rosette Flower. 

I sewed the lace down the sides and used a corduroy button brad in the center of the flower.  I wear the Gloria Vanderbuilt jeans, Amanda style.  Each pair has this denim like tag on the inside of the waist band.  This is my daughter's name so I decided to use the tag instead of a sentiment and make the card for her.
Here is the Tuesday Morning Sketch I used.

Challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketch
Stampin Sisters in Christ - technique you have been afraid to try
Stamp and Create - for the ladies
Hotshot Craft - die cuts
Incy Wincy - vintage
Cutie Pie - die cuts
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Simon Says - anything

June 1st - Doodle Pantry Realeas

As a guest designer for Doodle Pantry, I am having so much fun using Laurie's wonderful digial images. The 1st of each month is always something I look forward to because of the new releases. 

This is one of the new images you will find at Doodle Pantry 
One of my daughters had a dream (well, a nightmare really) about a longhorn cow and so I knew immediately I had to make a card for her using this image.  But what a great image to use on some cards for men.
When you stop by the Doodle Pantry Store to see all the new sets, be sure to stop by the Specials Page as Laurie is starting off summer with a sale!  There is a "35% off entire cart special' being offered from June 1-10 (excludes gift certificates and watermarks).  Be sure to add any "free with purchase" or other freebies to your cart.
AND join us in the monthly challenge.  Just for playing, you will receive this set:

 Isn't is so cute?
Thanks for stopping by.  Here's to a great month of JUNE.

Crafty Cardmakers - distress
Simon Says - anything