Thursday, April 27, 2017

Sweet Congratulatons

It's time for my DT Spotlight over at the Kitty Bee Designs blog and this week I am highlighting the Emily the Elephant image. How sweet is she? I just love the little flower by her ear!

Since I would be coloring the elephant gray I knew that I wanted to use yellow for a companion color and as the card came together it morphed into a congratulations card for a new baby. Elephants are the perfect image to welcome a new little one into the world!

For my layout I used the current sketch over at The Paper Players.

You can find this image and other great ones in the Kitty Bee Designs Etsy shop HERE.



Stamps: Emily the Elephant (Kitty Bee Designs), Delightful Dozen (SU retired)
Paper:  Smoky Slate (SU), Neenah Solar White, Watercolor Wonder DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Crushed Curry
Copics: N1, N2, N4
Y08
Colorless Blender
Accessories: Cuttlebug, CB Distressed Stripes EF, MFT Blueprints 23, Silver Gelly Roll Pen, Dimensionals

A Fishy Birthday for LMMS

It's Inspiration Week at LMMS and this week I used the Swings 'n Slides Fishy image. My husband and some of our kids love to fish, so I immediately thought of them when I saw this image.

I wanted to keep the card simple so I used Word to add the sentiment under the image and then colored the image. It's the perfect card for a young boy!

You can find this image in the LMMS store HERE, and come by the LMMS FB page for more inspiration!


Stamps: SS Fishy (LMMS)
Paper: Mossy Meadow (SU retired), Neenah Solar White
Ink: Printer Ink
Copics: E50, E51, E53
E35, E37, E99
YR16
E44
N2, N3
T0, T3
YG63, G94, G46
B91, B93, B95, B97
E59, E79
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 15

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Moose You

I made some time today to play along with 3 challenges....the sketch from The Paper Players, the animal theme at Cupcake Inspirations and a polka dot/chevron theme at Die Cuttin' Divas (a new to me challenge).

Of course for the animal theme I had to use a moose. I haven't had any moose in my yard for a few weeks though, now that the snow is gone they've headed back into the hills and the cow moose are preparing to give birth to their calves. I'm headed to Denali National Park the first weekend in May with a friend and I'm hoping to see moose, and bears, on our trip.

For my polka dots I used some retired DSP from SU. I had just enough of these colors left to make this card, whew! Neutrals and dark colors are my favorite so I always go through those colors pretty quickly in my stash.

For the die cut requirement, I used MFT Blueprints 15 and 23.

Thanks for stopping by!




Stamps: Warm Winter Wishes (Pretty Cute Stamps)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), Crumb Cake (SU), Neenah Solar White, Garden Green DSP (SU retired), Crumb Cake DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Garden Green
Copics: E50, E51, E53
E23, E 25, E27
G07
E47, E49
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 15 and 23, CB Swiss Dots EF, dimensionals

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Spring Flowers for Sunday Stamps

It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this week we have a color challenge. The colors this week are very spring like in my opinion, although here in Alaska we won't be seeing much color for another month as we wait for snow to melt and warm temperatures to take over!

I used the current Freshly Made Sketches sketch on my card, positioning the flowers on each side of the card. I then stamped by sentiment and created a banner across the lower section of the card. I really love this SU set, the flower is perfect for any occasion. 

We are to use at least 3 colors from the graphic, plus a neutral of our choice, so I went with the peach color and the 3 shades of green, with white as my neutral.

Make sure you head on over to the Sunday Stamps blog to see what the rest of the DT created and then play along with us!



Stamps: You've Got This (SU)
Paper: Mossy Meadow, Apricot Appeal (SU retired), Neenah Solar White, Mossy Meadow DSP (SU)
Ink: Mint Macaron (SU), Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: YR14, YR15
G24, YG97
Accessories: Scan N Cut, Dimensionals

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Just For You LMMS

It's time for a new challenge over at LMMS and I used one of my favorite images, Polka Dot Pals Uma. I just love what a sassy tomboy she is!

I colored the image with copics and then popped her up against an embossed layer of cardstotck. The embossing folder was a perfect match for the retired DSP I used.

As always, the LMMS challenge is Anything Goes, so come by the blog to see what the rest of the DT created and then play along with us!


Stamps: PDP Uma (LMMS), Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU)
Paper: Basic Gray, Neenah Solar White, Confetti Celebration DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Printer Ink, Tangelo Twist
Copics
Accessories: Cuttlebug, On Point TIEF (SU retired), MFT Blueprints 23, dimensionals

Monday, April 17, 2017

With Sympathy

Today's card was made for the Power Poppy challenge, I used the second sketch this time.

The woman I consider my stepmom lost her mother recently and so I needed a sympathy card to send to her. I love the new hyacinth digital image and decided to use that for my card. I resized the image, printed it out and then used my Scan N Cut to cut out the image. Instead of using a notebook edge on one of the layers like in the sketch I used a die from SugarPea Designs. I really liked the hearts for this card. The gray layer was embossed with a CB Argyle embossing folder. It's hard to see in the photos but I did use my silver Gelly Roll pen for a little sparkle on the hyacinths.



Stamps: Hyacinth Bulb in Glass (Power Poppy), Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU)
Paper: Smoky Slate (SU), Elegant Eggplant (SU), Neenah Solar White, MFT Tranquil Textures
Ink: Printer Ink, Elegant Eggplant (SU)
Copics
Accessories: Cuttlebug, SPD Notched Heart Journal Card, MFT Blueprints 20, CB Argyle EF, SU Round Corner Punch, Dimensionals

Friday, April 14, 2017

Happy Fathers Day

Power Poppy has a monthly challenge and this month there is a choice of 3 sketches to use. I want to use each of them so I am starting with the first sketch and working my way to the other 2.

It was love at first sight with the Leaping Trout digital set. The lake across the street from us has rainbow trout, one of my favorite fish, and hubby and our boys often go out there and try and get me some fish for dinner. The lake is still covered in ice and hubby is counting down the days until it breaks up and he can get out on the lake again to fish.

To get a bit of the iridescent look on the bottom of the fish I used my silver Gelly Roll pen and just made dots along the belly of the fish. Copics were used for the rest of the coloring.  

Thanks for stopping by!





Stamps: Leaping Trout (Power Poppy)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss (SU retired), Neenah Solar White, DCWV The Man Stack
Ink: Printer Ink
Copics: G21, G24, YG63
R85
B41
B00, B000
C1, C3
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Silver Gelly Roll Pen, SU Banner Framelits

Getting Chicky With It

It's time for the mid week inspiration at Aloha Friday Challenge and the theme is Easter. We've got 2 great sponsors for the challenge, The Paper Nest Dolls and Drawn with Character!

My family doesn't celebrate Easter so I picked an image from Drawn with Character that could be used for Easter or spring. This little chick dancing through the grass and flowers is just too cute! I'm trying to get through the large hoard of DSP I have, so I used some old SU DSP that I had. I thought the yellow combined with the flower DSP gave the card a nice spring feel!

Head on over to the blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the DT and then play along with us!


Stamps: Dancing Spring Chick (Drawn with Character)
Paper: So Saffron (SU), Neenah Solar White, Tea Party DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Printer Ink
Copics: W0, W2, W4
T0, T1
G21, G24
Y2, Y4
R32, RV06, BV02
BG13, BG15
G07
YR16
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Zig Zag Stitch Rectangles 

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Keep Your Goals in Mind

It's time for Inspiration Week at LMMS and this week I used a new image on my card. The image is called Swings N Slides Skills and I just love it! We're not a soccer family, my daughter played one year of it in high school, but we have a ton of family friends that play the sport and love it. I think this card would be great for maybe a junior or senior in high school that plays soccer but is looking towards their future.

My sons school colors are red and black so that's what I went with for my card. I colored the grass but right now our fields are still covered in snow LOL The sun and 50 degree temps are making quick work of the snow but it's still not clear. Gotta love spring sports season in Alaska :)

Head on over to the LMMS FB group for more inspiration from the rest of the DT and don't forget, there is still time to play along with the Anything Goes challenge!


Stamps: Swings N Slides Skills (LMMS), I Get A Kick Out of You (MFT)
Paper: Basic Black (SU), Neenah Solar White, Polka Dot Parade DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: R27
E50, E51, E53
E33, E37
N2, N3, N7
G09
\Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 20, Paper Piercing Tool and Grid, Dimensionals

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Earth Laughs in Flowers

Today's card wasn't made for any challenge, it's actually a "just because I liked it" card. Seems like I don't do too many of those lately!

I recently discovered a stamp company called Power Poppy. They offer clear stamps as well as digital images and she creates the most stunning flower designs. The images are so stunning and realistic, I just love them. Gardening keep me busy during our short Alaska summers and I just love watching flowers flourish in our 20+ hours of daylight.

Geraniums are one of my favorite flowers and so when I saw this digital stamp I had to have it. Bright red geraniums are usually what I always buy, I love how they stand out. I didn't go super bright red with my coloring on this image but I really like how it turned out! I wanted the image to be the star of this card so kept everything very clean and simple.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Geraniums (Power Poppy)
Paper: Riding Hood Red (SU retired), Neenah Solar White
Ink: Printer Ink
Copics: G21, YG63, YG97
R05, R27
C1
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 15

Monday, April 10, 2017

Moose Greetings for SPD

While hubby and our youngest watched Godzilla Sunday afternoon I headed into my craft room to get some cards made. I played along with a challenge I haven't joined in a while, the SugarPea Designs Mix It Up. You can play with the sketch, the inspiration photo or both. I chose to go with the sketch.

I used one of my favorite stamps from them, the moose from the Merry ChristMoose set. He can be used for any occasion, I just color his scarf to match whatever colors I am using on his card. For this card I went with yellow and gray with a hint of teal color. I used some retired SU DSP for the base layer and strips. I left a sentiment off so the card can be used for any occasion.

Thanks for stopping by!


Stamps: Merry ChristMoose (SPD)
Paper: Lost Lagoon (SU retired), Basic Gray (SU), Moonlight DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: E23, E25, E27
E50, E51, E53
E47, E49
N2, N3
Y08, Y18
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 15, MFT Zig Zag Stitch Circles, dimenionals

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Summer Love for FMS

After being here a week my nephew had to return back to CO and we took him to the airport late Saturday night. Today has just been a bit of a bummer day, missing him and just puttering around the house. When hubby and our youngest sat down to watch Godzilla I figured that was a good time to head to my craft room.

I had seen the sketch at FMS when it first came out and immediately went, wow, that's a bit intimidating. I don't really make a whole lot of square cards and I didn't know what to do for the 3 squares in the sketch. I was going through my blogroll today and the sketch popped up and I happened to look at my acrylic blocks and the idea for the card popped right into my head. Funny how stuff like that happens!

My daughter was definitely on my mind for this card. I am not a summer person at all, I prefer the cold and snow. Thankfully here in southcentral Alaska the summers aren't usually too warm and we stay a comfortable 70 or 75 degrees. My daughter LOVES the summer sun and she also loves flip flops. She wears them year round, even in the dead of winter. With her in mind I inked up my acrylic block in Bermuda Bay, spritzed it with water and then stamped it on the card. I repeated the process with Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo. I used a stamp from Simon Says Stamp to stamp the flip flops and sentiment in StazOn. As you can see I didn't go with a square card, but kept the layout the same.

Thanks for stopping by!


Stamps: Flip Flop Season (SSS)
Paper: Whisper White Thick (SU)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo (all SU), Black StazOn
Accessories: Acrylic Block

In The Direction of Your Dreams

It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this week it's a sketch challenge. My youngest graduates high school on May 8th so this sketch was perfect for me to create some quick and easy graduation cards to give to all of his friends. We moved to Alaska when he was in 3rd grade and has had the same core group of friends through the years. It's hard to believe that they are all getting ready to graduate and then spread out across the country this fall!

Their school colors are black and red so I started with a card base of black and then used a layer of red DSP. The banner is Basic Black DSP and the sentiment is from a retired SU set.

Make sure you head over to the Sunday Stamps blog to see what the rest of the DT created and then play along with us!


Stamps: Word Play (SU retired)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Fresh Prints DSP (SU retired), Basic Black DSP (SU)
Ink: Real Red (SU)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Zig Zag Stitch Circles, SU Banner Framelits, dimensionals


Thursday, April 6, 2017

Ewe Are the Best for LMMS

It's time for another great release over at Little Miss Muffet Stamps and for my card today I am showcasing a new image called Claribella. Isn't she sweet?

For my layout I used last weeks Freshly Made Sketches sketch. I like the 3 strips of paper behind the image. Just enough to give the card front a  bit of pop but not enough to take away from the image! My sentiment came from an MFT set.

To see all the images in the new release visit the LMMS store HERE. It's also the start of a brand new Anything Goes Challenge and you can play along with us HERE.



Stamps: Claribella (LMMS digital image), Ewe Are The Best (MFT)
Paper: Coastal Cabana (SU retired), Neenah Solar White, Fresh Prints DSP (SU retired)
Ink: Real Red (SU), Coastal Cabana (SU retired)
Copics: R29, BG34
E44, E47
N1, N2, N3
T0, T1, T3
Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 15, dimensionals

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Camo Chef

In August of last year my nephew left Alaska to begin culinary school in Boulder CO. He called us last week to tell us he had joined the Army! We were definitely shocked, but not surprised. My husband and I are both Navy veterans and my dad (his grandpa) was a Marine during Vietnam, so military service and pride runs deep in our house. We were just shocked he chose the Army LOL Needless to say he won't be living that down anytime soon :)

He flew home to Alaska on Saturday for 9 days and his 20th birthday was on April 2nd. I was at work one night last week after he had told us about the Army when the idea for his birthday card popped into my head....I was going to combine the 2 big chapters of his life right now, culinary and military. As soon as I got home from work I pulled out the Recipe for Happiness set from MFT and got to work.

I've never colored a camo pattern before so I looked at my husbands camo uniforms from when he was in, and then I had a friend send me a close up picture of his Army uniform, since he is serving right now and the uniforms have been updated over the years. I colored the entire chef uniform with a base color of E31 and then with 3 different greens I just did short, quick strokes across the uniform to create my camo pattern.

My layout is from last weeks sketch at The Paper Players. The camo paper was on clearance at my local JoAnn's and the embossing folder is a Cuttlebug one.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Recipe for Happiness (MFT), It's Your Birthday (SSS-sentiment)
Paper: Always Artichoke (SU), Early Espresso (SU), Crumb Cake (SU), PP from JoAnn's, Neenah Solar White
Ink: Always Artichoke
Copic: E31
BG93, YG63, G99
BG96
E50, E51, E53
E37
Accessories: Cuttlebug, CB Stars EF, MFT Zig Zag Stitch Circles, MFT Blueprints 20, dimensionals