May Your Love Continue to Grow

  That is the sentiment on the inside of the card which I made for one of my daughters and my SIL.

They have five children so I punched out 5 green heart leaves and then the two pink ones for them.  The sketch is at Sweet Stop

Base card is Kraft, DP is a piece I have had for ages.  I made the sky by sponging teal ink around a scallop die cut.  Punched wood heart is punched out of Kraft that I stamped with a wood grain stamp from a Unity stamp.  Tree and sentiment are GKD.

Challenges:
Mark's Finest- simple and sentiment
Kraft Journal - use any sketch
Simon Says - anything
Party Time Tuesday - anything
Pile It On - cute (I think it is cute, LOL)

Very CAS cards

Here are a couple really simple CAS birthday cards inspired by Jennifer McGuire's card.

And here is Jennifer's card that I CASED:

Love that fancy script.   For my card, I  used an old SU stamp, spectrum pads, and Sakura clear stardust pen, Cuttlebug folders.

Challenges:
A Blog Named Hero - case
Craft4eternity - birthday
Simon Says - anything
Mark's Finest - anything and sentiment

Going Back In Time

With so much company and so much activity this week at my house, there hasn't been much chance to play in my stamp room.   So I am not only going back in time to the dinosaur age but back in time with a card I made a few months ago.
  This is one of the Zenware digital images I was given to play with.  I printed the dino and tree leaves images out on designer papers, tree trunk on Kraft Funday Everyday Fun.

Base is Kraft by GKD. Sky is Barely Banana CS by Stampin Up. Just rubbed on a little bit of rose chalk to make a sunset look.  I colored the tusks, horns, whatever, on the dino, "cut" some grass and that was it.  Really easy.


Challenges:
Verve - birthday
Stampin Sisters in Christ - CAS
Kraft Journal - make me smile
Ribbon Carousel - photo inspiration
Simon Says - anything
Craft 4 Eternity - birthdays
Mark's Finest - anything goes plus sentiment

Bunches of Flowers and Thanks

I wanted to make a special card expressing some thanks to a dear family who traveled a great distance to be at our family birthday party this past weekend.  Such dear friends.  How great it was to see them and have them celebrate with us.
The stamp set I used is Verve "Joyful Blooms" and also used the corresponding die cuts.  My card was inspired by a card by Jackie Pedro, a Verve DT member.   Here is the link for her card.

Kraft by Kraft Outlet.  Bashful Blue by Stampin'Up



Challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday - 2 or more dies
Kraft Outlet - Make Me Smile
Crafty Cardmakers - create own flowers
Simon Says - anything
Mark's Finest - anything plus sentiment
Your Next Stamp - anything

For a Sweet Little Girl

It is so fun to have my daughter and her family here for a week long visit.  We are celebrating lost of birthdays this week and it is one of my granddaughter's birthday today.  Glad to have her here on this special day.  My husband and I have traveled to their house for her birthday but cannot handle the heat (114 one year).  Great to have them come this way this year. Yesterday we had all 10 grandchildren and all my children here.  Such fun, such noise, such wonderful memories.   Here is the card I made for her.

I used the Unity/Ippity set "Fabulous Girl" , stamping with different colors onto different colors for paper piecing.  I used the sketch at  The Craft's Meow . Love how it turned out.

Challenges:
Your Next Stamp - anything
Verve - birthday
Love to Create - spots and dots
Stamptacular Sunday - dies
Crafty Creations - tag
Really Reasonable Ribbon - summer colors
Crafts 4 Eternity - circles
Pile It On - tags

Have a Blast

July is birthday month for our family.  I have 10 grandchildren and 4 of them have birthdays within 10 days of each other in July.  In fact two of them share a day.  Crazy.  So I have been busy trying to think up birthday cards for kids.  This card is for a boy turning 5 who is fascinated with outer space.  He is way advanced in his interests and asks me questions I can't answer.   When he was three he told me that Saturn was probably the only planet that had rings.  Anyway, I think he will like this card.  I just hope it is not too unrealistic for him!
The rocket is a stamp by 2 Cute Rubber Stamps.  I think I have only used it twice but thought of it when planning a card for this grandson.   It is cute.  Will have to pull it out more often.

The three stars are cut out of a strip that was part of a SU scrapbook kit.  I added Stickles to those and outlined each silver star on the DP with Sakura Clear Star pen. .   Oh, I also outlined the rocket to give it a little shine.  The sentiments are digital by Doodle Pantry - they go with the Bottle Rocket Ants.  Check it out Here
You have just a few more days to enter the monthly challenge at the  Doodle Pantry Challenge Blog.  Receive a free digital set just for playing.

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - sparkle
Stamptacular Sunday - wings and bling  (hope these are considered wings on a rocket.)
Love to Create - 3 of something
Incy Wincy - dust em off
Cutie Pie - glitter and bling
Your Next Stamp - anything
Mark's Finest - masculine birthday
Verve - birthday

We All Need Inspiration

You know I love challenges. Not only for the chance of winning something but also because I have no MoJo unless I have a sketch, assigned colors, something to inspire me, someone to CASE.  For this card, it was Jennifer McGuire.  I had the same stamp set by Hero Arts which was designed for Operation Write Home. I had not used it for quite some time so it was good to use it to copy her idea.   Loved her card which is posted below mine.

Jennifer's card:

For my card, I used gold heart brads, a blue heart brad, blue gems, miscellaneous DP, SU BG Script stamp, SU Blue Bayou CS.

Challenges:
Stampin Sisters in Christ - sparkle
Blog Named Hero - DT inspiration
Love to Create - 3 of something (3 hearts)
Incy Wincy - dust em off
Crafty Creations - tag
Your Next Stamp - anything
Stamp TV - masculine card

Growing Up

My grandchildren are growing up so fast.  I made this card for one of my grand daughters.  Probably the last time I can use a little girl like this.  Going to have to go pre-teen from here on.   This cute digital image is pre-colored and is by Melonheadz.   My grand daughter loves pink and purples so I thought this would be perfect. 

This is the sketch I used ( Pink Gem)

All the flowers were cut out with a Cuttlebug die cut.  I put Stickles on all the yellow centers and added gem for the centers of the white flowers in her bouquet.
Cardstock is Bubblegum by GKD

Challenges:
Gem of a Challenge - sketch
Stampin Sisters in Christ - add sparkle
Love to Create - use three of something (3 strips of DP)
Stamp and Create - hands full of love
Digi Designs - pile on the flowers
Your Next Stamp - flowers

Hope You Have A Hoot

Reaching into my digital bag and pulling out a cute digi I have not used for awhile.  Love this Quirky Owl by Doodle Pantry.  He comes in outline and pre-colored.  Because I wanted this card to be a guy card, I chose to color him myself.
Hop over to the Doodle Pantry Blog and enter the challenge.  Receive a free digital set just for playing along.

The sketch is at Sweet Stop

I used a Cuttlebug wood grain embossing folder on the Kraft paper.  The two strips of DP are pulled out of the scrap box.
Even if it isn't your birthday, have a hoot today !


Challenges:
Craft Your Passion - Kraft and ribbon (twine)
Incy Wincy - dust em off
Mark's Finest - Masculine Birthday
ABC challenge - two (2 strips, 2 twine)
Verve - birthday

Summertime, Sun -sun-summertime

Summertime.  Sunner time.  When I was growing up my summer times were spent in the sun and in the water.  We lived by a lake and we were either in or by the water most of the day.  Good memories.
I get a chuckle when I color this digital image by Nina Jay.  It makes me think he is trying to talk himself into the first swim of the year - probably a little chilly.

I put a few real little shells along with the stamped ones (stamp by Faith Greetings) and Stickles on the sun.
Here is the sketch I used:

Challenges:
Clearly i Stamp - some like it hot
Ribbon Carousel - button and bow
CPS
ABC - T for two= 2 twine
Great Impression - color inside the lines
Stampin Sisters in Christ - add sparkle
Pile it On - relax
Stamptacular Sundays - wings and bling
Cutie Pie - glitter and bling
Party Time Tuesday - die cuts
Really Reasonable Ribbon - sizzlin summer colors

Finally a Little Stamping Time

Whew !  That was a busy week.  So good to sit and stamp a little this evening.  The stamp I used is My Favorite Things.   I get a kick out of this stamp and some of the sentiments that go with it.  I think I thought about this stamp set because I just came in from 2 hours of mowing my own yard.

 Sketch is CPS

I colored the image with Prisma pencils and did the sky and clouds with ink and a dauber.

Challenges:
CPS
Crafty Creations
Stamp and Create
Mark's Finest
Clear it Out
Great Impressions

Too Busy to Stamp?

This should never be, but sadly it is true.  I won't list all that I am involved in this summer because I don't want to wear you out !  I am glad I am not bored but wish I could squeeze in some stamping time. 
This is a card I made awhile back but never posted.  The darling digital image "Now I lay me down to Sleep"  is by Robyn's Fetish and the sentiment is Our Daily Bread Design.

Not sure if you can see it in the photo, but I put liquid pearls on the drawer knobs. Button is from an old blouse.  Ribbon is seem binding from Ribbon Carousel.

Challenges:
Ribbon Carousel - button and bows
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards - anything
Great Impressions - stay in the lines
Word Art

It's Friday and It's Beautiful

Summer - finally!  I know some of you have had lots of sun and heat but here in Washington, we are just now getting our summer.  And I am so glad for sun.  Maybe things in my garden will finally grow and my flowers won't be beaten down to the ground by rains. 

Now on to some cards.
I made two with the same set by Ippity "Now and Always"
The first I used four colors which was a challenge at StampTV (red, lemon, lime, orange).
When I thought about doing some piercing on the corner, it was fun to see that one of my templates was the same stitched swirl as on the flower. 

The second card was based on the sketch at The Craft's Meow

 I outlined all the petals on the red flower and many of the petals on the base CS  with clear Sakura pen.  Give a little sparkle.  Wish it showed up better in the photo.

So the challenges:
Blog Named Hero - stretch your stamps
Crafty Cardmakers - make your own flowers
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - anything
Clear it Out - use yellow
Unity Stamp Co. - summer
Unity - Friday with Flair
DYSU - red

Campfires and S'mores

What is summer without S'mores?  They are so sweet, so messy, but so fun to make.  We are fortunate to be able to have our own small campfire on our property during much of the year and the grand children sure love to roast those marshmallows. 
This adorable digital image is by Clear Dollar Stamps.

I used the sketch at The Craft's Meow

The trees are cut with a Cuttlebug die, tag with a Spellbinders die.

Challenges:
Mark's Finest - animal and sentiment
Stamp and Create - something in hands
Digital Tuesday -kids
Really Reasonable Ribbon - children's birthday
Craft 4 Eternity - bears
Wags n Whiskers - use Kraft
Di's Digidesign - summertime
Hotshot Craft - die cuts
Simon Says - tags

Happy Birthday USA

As we celebrate this day, let's remember all those who are serving in the military who help to keep us free. 
Here are a couple cards I made yesterday  - will be sending them to our heroes via Operation Write Home.

I used the same stamp in both but in totally different styles. The challenge at  Blog Named Hero
gave me that idea.   Here is the first one using the sketch at Sentimental Sundays

The sketch I used:

The stamp is by Our Daily Bread set "Not Forgotten" 
 CS = GKD Red Hot, SU "Not Quite Navy, and Kraft by Kraft Outlet
Ribbon = Reasonable Ribbon
Silver  Brads

The second card:

 Sketch is at Seems a Little Sketchy
Kraft CS from Kraft Outlet
Twine - Baker's

Challenges:
Blog Named Hero
Seems a Little Sketchy
Sentimental Sundays
Stamptacular Sunday
Kraft Journal
Our Daily Bread
Ribbon Carousel
Party Time Tuesday
Mark's Finest Papers
Wags n Whiskers
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards

Sweet Land of Liberty

Are you all getting ready for July 4th parties and celebrations?  Don't forget to think about history behind this great day.
Today my card features a digital image and sentiment by Doodle Pantry .

I used little pieces of digital paper to make the background.  The large star is from a sheet of stars I recently found in my stash.
The sketch is the bonus sketch at Sentimental Sundays .

Other challenges:
Ribbon Carousel - Independence Day
Simon Says - patriotic
Mark's Finest - use metal
Chocolate, Coffee, Cards - anything
Sweet n Sassy - red, white, blue
Di's Digidesign - summertime

This May Cool You Off

For those of you who are suffering in the heat, here is a card that may cool you off.   We in the Pacific NW are still waiting for hot weather.  We would even settle for warm temperatures !
The Quirky Snowman digital set is by Doodle Pantry 
Today begins the July Release; check out all the new sets.   The new monthly challenge  begins today too.
This month anyone can download the feature set shown below and use it to enter the challenge.  Download between July 1 and 15.  Then play the challenge.   1 winner will be chosen from entries not using the feature image and 1 winner will be chosen using the feature image Tiny Triceratops.

Here is my card with the new Quirky Snowman  I chose the outline version so I could choose the colors.

I put crystal lacquer on the buttons and Stickles on the snowflakes. 
Sketch is My Favorite Things

Challenges;
Stamptacular Sunday - red, white, blue, sparkle
Mark's Finest - use metal
Chocolate, Coffee, & Cards - anything