Final Coffee Card

Yeah, I did get another card done.  I had this Jessica Lynn digital stamp printed out ever since the first day of the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Just had to color it up and get a card made.

There were so many coffee cards with doilies so I had to use one too. I started out with a round one but liked this heart one better.  Wouldn't this card make a great Mother's Day card?  That is what I'm going to use it for.
After embossing the white card stock with the Darice EF, I sponged some green onto the raised embossed pattern.  I have had these ribbon vines for so long ( 3 different colors) but don't remember what store I ordered them from.  At the top of the vine and on the Washi tape I attached three melted Perler beads.   Image is colored with Copics.
Sketch is Tuesday Morning:

Challenges:
CardzTV - anything 
Coffee Lovers Challenge
Simon Says Wednesday - anything
Tuesday Morning - sketch
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crop Stop - anything
Work It Wednesday - Spring
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Daily Marker - 30 days color
Stamploration Monthly Theme - spring

Color is Puzzling

Isn't color fascinating?  and frustrating?  I took pics of this book-mark on four different patterned papesr.  Three of them gave off a ghastly (ghostly?) blue hue which I could not tweak out.  This is the best of the four but IRL the seam binding ribbon is the same color as the cup sleeve.  Oh, well.  You get the gist.

I needed a new book mark so I made this one with Latina Crafts cup, die, and sentiment.  The rose and leaves are OLD Stampin Up stamps.  The coffee spill is a Joy Clair stamp.
This may be the last of the coffee related items for this time around at the Coffee Lovers challenge but I am hoping to make one more card if time permits today.  Regardless, it has been fun.

Challenges:
 Coffee Lovers Challenge 
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything
Daily Marker - 30 days color

With Love and Prayers

Love these coloring cards by Gina K Designs.  It takes a good bit of time to color but oh so fun to color them different each time.

The sequins look so pink in the photo but in reality they reflect the green, yellow, and orange that are in the butterfly. 

Challenges:
Simon Monday - wings
Simon Wednesday - anything
Cardz TV - anything goes
Crafty Creations - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crafty Awesomeness - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Stamploration CAS

Daily Marker - 30 days color

Birthday Sweets

Sometimes a card just comes together with little effort and you like the results! This was one of those times.

I've had this designer paper forever and I've had this cute stamp set by Paper Sweeties for many a month without using it.  Look how well they go together.

Ovals are Spellbinder.  Image colored with Copics and pencils.

Challenges:
All Sorts Challenge - cakes, cupcakes, sweet treats
Crafty Creations - anything
Crafty Awesomeness - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Stamploration CAS

  Daily Marker - color
Die Cuttin Divas - anything 

Coffee For A Chilly Spring

As I am making cards for the Coffee Lovers Spring Challenge, I printed up this cute digital stamp which I downloaded in the winter's blog hop.  I know our cards are supposed to be Spring related and I know this bear is wearing a sweater and scarf but that is what we are doing this Spring!  Only 45 degrees again today.  Sure doesn't feel like Spring.  So my solution was to use Spring colors and add a few flowers to the card.

The sketch is MFT:

The BG paper is digital.  The sentiment is an old stamp of unknown source in my collection of miscellaneous stamps.  The image is colored with Copics and cut out with a Spellbinder die.   The tiny flower in the bear's hair (well, actually just on her head 😀) is cut with a punch.  The sentiment is fussy cut.
Whatever the weather, even if it is cold, I hope you will enjoy the day (and a cup of coffee will help!)

Challenges:
Simon Monday - layers
MFT sketch
Simon Wednesday -  more than one die or punch
CardzTV - anything 
All Sorts - sweet treats
Crafty Creations - anything
Cutie Pie - dies and digis
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Spring Coffee Lovers challenge
Daily Marker - color

It All Stacks Up

It is cold and drizzly, my husband is watching March Madness so I am in my craft room with the heater on, enjoying the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and challenge.

This is a digi stamp I downloaded from one of the past Coffee Lovers Challenges.  Used up some scraps by paper piecing each cup.  I didn't want to try to fussy cut the handles so I cut those off , pieced the cup, and then used a Copic to color the handles.  The rectangle cut is a MFT Stitched Rectangle die and the flowers are done with a Cuttlebug die.
Sketch is Tuesday Morning :

Challenges:
Coffee Lovers Challenge
Simon Monday - layers
Simon Wednesday - two or more dies
Work It Wednesday - green
Daily Marker
Deep Ocean - flowers everywhere
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cutie Pie - cutest digi stamp and dies
Crop Stop - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Stamploration - theme Spring

Spring and Coffee

Yes, I love both.  And I love the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop challenge.  So here is another card.

Even though it take a bit of time to color this kind of image, I do enjoy it.  I used Copics.  The image, by the way, is a free digital image from Stamplorations.
The cup on the flower petals is a stamped image and cut with corresponding die by Latina Crafts.  The flower petals were cut with a Cuttlebug die.  Sentiment is cut with a Spellbinder tag die.
Don't you think all those flowers (even without the coffee) would perk someone up?
Sketch is this weeks sketch at MFT:

 I couldn't bear to cover up any of those pretty flowers so I put the sentiment under the image.

Challenges:
MFT - sketch 
Simon Monday - layers
Simon Wednesday - use more than one die
Deep Oceans - flowers everywhere
Daily Marker - color
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crop Stop - anything
Stamploration Theme - Spring

Stamploration Never ending challenge

Coffee Lovers Challenge

Proof It Is Spring

We can not prove it is Spring by the weather but we know it is Spring because it is time for the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  I love these blog hops. SO many wonderful ideas and inspiration.
This is the first card I will enter (hope to enter serveral).

The digital image is by From the Heart and I used this weeks sketch at FTH:

The image panel is backed with a cut with the MFT Stitched Rectangle dies.  The one layer of flower is from my stash and then I cut out the yellow flower with a Cuttlebug die to put on top.  Center is a melted Perler bead.
I chose the yellow seam binding that is hand dyed.  I thought it looked like a coffee stain 😊.

Challenges:
From the Heart - sketch
Crafty Awesomeness
Daily Marker
Work It Wednesday - use green
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Simon Monday - layers
Simon Wednesday - more than one die
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Coffee Lovers Hop
Stamploration - theme : Spring

Better and Stronger

Tomorrow my husband and I will celebrate our anniversary - 49 years.  Neither one of us can believe we are old enough for that number but our bodies are starting to convince us that we are indeed.  Even though our bodies are showing wear and tear with the years, our love for each isn't wearing out. It is thriving not just surviving.  God's grace and gift.
This is the card I made for him. 

This cute image is Dearie Dolls.   Sketch is Tuesday Morning Sketch:

This was my first time to use two new dies from Stamploration.  I put tiny pieces of dimensional tape under the letters of Always and used only the hearts from the Clustered Hearts die.  Image is cut with Die-namics Stitched Rectangles.
Even though "my" dress doesn't have flowers, I used the orange and red in one of the dresses in the inspiration photo for the Cutploration challenge.

Challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday - more than one die
Daily Marker - 30 days coloring
Simon Monday - layers
Tuesday Morning Sketch
Cartz TV Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cutie Pie - cutest digi stamp and die
7 Kids College Fund - anything

Stamploration Never Ending 

 Cutploration

Splash of Color

This new set of stamps by Joy Clair - what fun.  I have wanted a splash set for awhile because I see so many cards with these blobs and splashes, but do you think I could come up with something?  Not for quite a while.  I finally took the plunge, use the sketch at From the Heart and made a birthday card for one of my grandsons.

Here is the sketch:

 I decided to use the sketch, the colors, and the twist - Be Bold.
The sentiment is from the Hamlet in the Planter set by From the Heart.
The horizontal strip is a piece of designer paper.  As you can see, I ran each of the colored cardstock banners through the Cuttlebug with Cuttlebug and Darice embossing folders.

Challenges:
From the Heart - sketch
CardzTV - challenge 4 anything
Crop Stop - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Deep Ocean - spots and/or stripes 

Out of My Control

Three St. Patrick Day cards?!  I have never made that many before.  But the receptionist at my chiropractor's office loves S.t Patty's Day and when I saw the Verve Irish coffee set,  I didn't have any choice! I had to make another card.  LOL

I used the sketch at Die Cuttin Divas :

The embossing folder is a new one from the Crop Stop.  In fact, it is one that I won.  Just had to use it  - succumbing to another impulse.
The circle is cut out with a Die-namics Circle.  The sentiment is cut with a Spellbinder tag.
I didn't think I would ever run out of brads, but I am down to these large ones.  Because they don't flatten out as much as the little ones, I added some dimension tape on the back of the white panel.  The cup is also popped up with  tape and I put the tape behind the 4 leave clover too.

Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - sketch
Work It Wednesday - green
Daily Marker - 30 days color
Dies R Us - something new
Time Out - love or friendship
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Words2CraftBy - proverbs and blessings

St. Patrick's Day - Almost Here

As I said in an earlier post, I make only two St. Patrick's Day cards each year.  One of the two I made, I have had to hold under wraps for awhile, until now,  for I made it per request when I was asked to be the guest designer for Words 2 Craft By.  Thank you W2CB for the privilege.
The challenge for the month of March is Proverbs and Blessings. The inspirational quote is:  "A good friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have. "  Head over to W2CB for more details and a chance to win. 

I love this "Irish Blessing" !  The border is a glittered border strip from my stash.  The 4 leaf clover is cut out with the Silhouette.  Isn't this wooden coffee mug with the heart the cutest thing?  It is from Latina Crafter.  The digital sentiment is cut out with a Die-namic Stitched Rectangle and backed with Kraft Lunch Bag Cardstock from the Kraft Outlet.

Challenges:
Work It Wednesday - green
Stamploration - stamps and Spring
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Dies R Us - something new (coffee cup) 
7 Kids College Fund - anything

Once in a Lifetime

Years ago, when I was struggling in and with life, the Lord gave me a friend. We listened to each other, cried with each other, prayed with each other.  Even though we have lived 1900 miles away for 20 years, I still consider her my best friend.  I have never found another one so precious and important to me.  We don't talk on the phone often.  She is in the beginning stages of memory loss.  I was able to travel to see her last year for the first time in 10 years.  She is in her 80's now so maybe it will be my last time.  I made this card with her in mind and will again, as always, write a note inside telling her how important she has been and is in my life.

The spotlight coloring was symbolic of her standing out in my life.
The image is GKD coloring sheets.  The sentiment is SU stamp.

Challenges:
Daily Marker - 30 days color
Tuesday Throwdown - thinking of you 
Stamploration Theme - spring
Work It Wednesday - use green
Crafty Calendar - special lady
Cardz TV - anything
Time Out - friendship with twist of spotlight
Stamploration CAS - anything CAS

Hand in Hand

Time to make some anniversary cards for the year.  I thought the MFT sketch this week would be a good one to use but I'm not so sure I like the results of my card.  I am going to make 6 of these for my childrens' anniversaries but the next one isn't until July so maybe I won't use this design afterall.  My sons like receiving my cards as much as my daughters so I don't want to be too "girly" or frilly.  Help me out - what do you think?

The background embossing is a Cuttlebug folder.  The frame is made with two dies from the Die-namic Stitched Rectangle set.  I chose the stitched ribbon because of the stitches in the frame (which you can't see in the photo).  Orange embellie is a melted Perler bead.  Image and sentiment are Doodle Pantry.
Sketch:

Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - ribbons or bows
Cardz TV - anything
Time Out - love or friendship
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Daily Marker - color

One Day At A Time

There are so many who are hoping Spring is almost here.  After another snowfall Monday and Tuesday, it is evident that we might as well sit back and wait because we cannot rush Spring coming.  No sense in fretting.  In fact, while others were moaning and complaining about more snow, I was enjoying it!  So many times our snow comes in the form of a blizzard.  This last snow was beautiful, flakes floating down, no wind, turning the area into a winter wonderland. One principle that I am trying to put into practice is to enjoy the day I am in; not to live in the past or the future.  We miss so much looking back or wishing for the future.
Having said all that, I must admit it will be nice to see signs of Spring - flowers and sunshine.
Here is a card with a touch of Spring:

The image is by From the Heart.  The ovals were cut with Spellbinder Oval dies.  Flowers were made with Spellbinder Scallop Circles.  I cut a slit between each scallop to form "petals" before adding a brad.  The leaves are a Elizabeth Craft Jasmine die.
Sketch used:

Challenges:
All Sorts Challenge - use metal (brads)
Send A Smile 4 Kids - spring
Word Art Wednesday - anything
From the Heart  - sketch
Daily Marker - 30 days to color