Flowers Galore

Oh how I love May - so many flowers in bloom!  The flowers beds are just full of the vibrant colors of azaleas and rhododendrons; the hanging baskets with petunias, pansies, lobelia, and alyssum.  And with working in those areas and planting a veggie garden too,  I am enjoying these burst of color.

I haven't been able to make very many cards lately because of all the outdoor work but here is a card on which I played around with my stencils.

 The stencil is  by Stamploration.  The inks I used are Tim Holtz Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, and Twisted Citron Distress Oxides.
"Hello" is a MFT die from the Hello die set.
The green vine with leaves is a fabric trim .

Challenges:
Simon Monday - use a stencil
Simon Wednesday - use a stencil
Die Cuttin Divas - favorite color combo
Time Out - blossoms and friends
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cardz TV - anything
Die Cut Divas - flowers
Crop Stop - anything
Joy Clair - mood board

Orange Azaleas

It is the time of year for azaleas . I have bright pinks, soft pinks, and purples in my yard but no orange. Going to get one some year!
 I have only used this new stamp set by Power Poppy a few times but with all the azaleas outside, it was time to play with this set again.

Using the single blossom stamp, I stamped a background with black ink, adding just a touch of green and orange.  The main image is colored with Copics then cut with an Elizabeth Crafts Stitched Oval. It is backed with a Spellbinder oval.   Blossoms on the ribbon are fussy cut.   I love finding ribbon in my stash that is the same color as the image or cardstock.

We have some huge azalea bushes so I cut some today for my dining room table.


Challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Dies R Us - flowers
Die Cut Divas - May flowers
Power Poppy - Black and White with pop of color
Patties Creations - flowers
Cardz TV - anything

All Star Dad

Yesterday was a mix of rain showers and sunshine.  So instead of working outside, I cleaned my house.  Boy, did it need it.  But I also took breaks.  And what would I do during a break?  Make a card, of course.
In my last box of cards to Send A Smile 4 Kids, I included some Father's Day cards.  Silly me - I didn't take any pics.  You'll just have to believe me when I say they were awesome.  Heehee.
Yesterday I made a few more.  They aren't as awesome (LOL) but they were fun to make.

 This week's sketch at MFT:

The hat, pennant, and "All Star" are stamps by Power Poppy (colored with Copics).  I fussy cut the pennant and the hat.
The word DAD is made with alphabet stickers. The banner is cut with an Imagine That die set, Be Awesome.
Stars are cut with a Verve die.
Challenges:
MFT - sketch
Simon Wednesday - for the boys
CardzTV - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything

Love, Love, Love This Card

Every once in a while you make a card that you want to keep for yourself because you love it so much.  I made a card for my DIL's birthday that falls into that category.  I saw a card on Pinterest and just had to CASE it.  I love the original card but love my version just as much!  So thankful for other cardmakers' ideas.
Here is my card:

Here is the card from Pinterest:

For my card I made a rose with the Elizabeth Crafts Design Rose 3 dies.  The white flowers are made with Cuttlebug dies, and the small peach colored flowers were made with the Silhouette.
Leaves - ECD and Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish.
Coral dots - melted Perler beads.
Peach colored pearls - Copic colored pearls.
Embossing Folders: Cuttlebug

Challenges:

Cut It Up - flowers
CardzTV - anything
Die Cut Divas - flowers
Dies R Us - flowers
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Joy Clair - May mood board

Gate Fold With Extra Element

I was out of State for a week and when I came back, the Azaleas, Lilac, and fruit trees were all in bloom.  I love them all.  I need to take pics today of all the glorious colors.

Can you believe how creative some people are?  I am always in awe and wonder at how some can come up with new techniques and card styles.  While I was looking for a unique card, I ran across this interactive card.  It took a bit of time in the construction but what a fun unique card!
I am showing three pics to give you an idea of how this gate card looks closed, partially open and fully open.

Besides the Power Poppy Azaleas set, I used Our Daily Bread Crocheted Circle stamp and die, and a MFT Stax circle die.
Even though it does not show the dimension in the photo, I added a second layer of three flowers on the front in order to pop them up a bit.
The sentiments inside are Whimsy and ?
I love how this turned out.  It takes the gate fold and adds another interesting element.

Challenges:
Die Cut Divas - flowers
Scor-Pal - flowers
Cardz TV Happy Birthday - optional flowers
Joy Clair - May your days be useful like the buds of May
Cardz TV- anything
House that Stamps Built - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Dies R Us - flowers
Double D-  May flowers