One seed can start a garden, one candle can light a room, one step can begin a journey, one conversation can start a friendship, one smile from a handmade card can lift one's SPIRIT!

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Seize the Birthday with a topping!!

Hi Friends!  Today we have a fun topping at the Seize the Birthday Challenge!! 
 We would like to see Birds, Bees, or Butterflies on your Birthday card!
You can see what I went with * wink!!
stamps, dies & stencil: PTI Color Pop: Butterflies, Sugar Pea Design: Bring on the Cake (scallop die), SOA Sugar Pea Design: Enchanted Garden~ sentiment
 
 As always we look forward to seeing what you create with this topping, 
or you can make any kind of birthday card!
        
 
Heart Hugs, friends!


Monday, June 27, 2016

Merry Monday



Hi Friends, today I selected the photo inspiration for our Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge!
When I saw those beautiful colors I knew this was the one;
I spotted the InkaGold in that beautiful Steel Blue color and knew that was what I needed to use.  So first I smooshed some onto a mixed media paper and started on a  card.  
I used Memory Box Pine Border and Outline trees die.
The border was cut with silver metallic paper. 
I mounted it on a gold metallic paper from PTI and with a silver embossed sentiment I am calling it good.
I do have one other that I did also for this challenge.

 I found a tree die and I made a stencil with acetate.  First I laid down the negative and with my finger, I spread the Inka Gold Platinum for the tree.  Then I laid the positive down and spread the steel blue.  After it dried I buffed it and it is so soft and smooth!
My BFF had given me some gold pattern paper, so I cut two strips and added them to the sides. The sentiment is a die from SSS.  I do like how this turned out and it does have the colors I asked for:
 
Just a little reminder that this is the last Merry Monday challenge until September  5th rolls around.  
We are all getting a little break to be with families and enjoy the relaxing summer time!
See you in September!

Heart Hugs, friends!



Saturday, June 25, 2016

June Blog Hop

Nichole has an awesome inspiration photo for this month's June Blog Hop.
I saw all the beautiful colors layered over each other with some translucent.
I pulled out Bloomers and the stencils from Color Pop Flowers.
My sentiment and die is from Scripted Sentiments.  I cut out the die cut two times and layered it with glossy accents.
Here is the inspiration piece...an artwork from Yellana James.
 June blog hop


Heart Hugs, friends!



Friday, June 24, 2016

Color Throwdown # 398

Oh, I love the colors for this weeks challenge over a the
I inked up some flower stamps from My Monthly Hero March and colored them with copics.
I did a little masking too!
My hot pink ( RV14, RV17, RV19) didn't end up looking too hot pink (the two flowers on either side of the sunflower), so I added a piece of the raspberry fizz paper for my background.  The little flowers on the end (I guess they could be leaves!) I colored with R27, R29.  My sunflower I kept yellow using Y11, Y13, Y15.
My sentiment is from Essentials by Ellen:  Mondo Hydrangea.

Heart Hugs, friends!



A Special Birthday

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Dear Friend,
Happy Birthday to YOU!!
Yes, friends, today is Linda's birthday, you know that we are partners in crime, right?
We skype at least once a week while we make cards!
We offer mostly constructive criticism to each other!
Stop by and wish her a Happy Day!!
 If I could have picked a sister it would have been YOU, Lin!
Can you believe we have been friends for almost 60 years? 
Thanks for being my "(older" *wink) friend and for enjoying this hobby as much as I do!
Will we still be skyping and making cards through another 20 years?
Hope so!!

Hope you have a TERRIFIC DAY, my friend!!
 stamps & dies:  Altenew Majestic Bloom, MFT: Poppy
PTI stencil
wink of stella to color the flower and leaves on vellum!
 
Heart Hugs, friends!



Wednesday, June 22, 2016

MFT Sketch Challenge # 286

Hi Friends, I am playing with the MFT Sketch Challenge!
stamps & dies: MFT Forget Me Not, PTI Choose Joy
paper:  MFT Dots & Stripes neutral pack
Lil' Inkers stitched circles
 
Heart Hugs, friends!



Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Paper Players 300th Challenge!

Congratulations on your 300th Challenge Paper Players!
It's a Clean and Simple theme challenge from Jaydee: Celebration! 
I pulled out PTI Wishes Come True
I die cut the candles, then I spread Inka-Gold Steel Blue and Inka-Gold "Old Gold" for the flame.  After it was dry, I buffed it up!
My background was made using Inka-gold Platinum along with an aqua mist reinker, I smooshed it on a piece of acetate and then onto my watercolor paper.
I wanted my 'celebrate' die cut to be a little darker, so I used the platinum Inka-Gold and some tropical teal reinker.  I die cut it three times.
I also added some splatters!
Thank you for stopping by...now go check out the fun at this 300th Challenge!
 
Heart Hugs, friends!



Monday, June 20, 2016

Make It Monday ~ Reverse Stenciling

Boy does Betsy come up with unique ways to use stamps and stencils!
Today the MIM is about doing a reverse stencil on your card.  You can go HERE to watch Betsy's video!
I had my own stencil made from the Happy hexagon Cover Plate...only some of the hexagons did not cut out, but I thought that would look good and add some extra interest to the background.  I brayed on Spring Rain and Blueberry Sky.  and I added a strip of blueberry sky card stock at the top.
I die cut the word two times and added glossy accent on top.

stamps & dies: Bold Blossom, Big Hug

Thanks for stopping by friends!!

Heart Hugs, friends!



CAS(E) this Sketch 177

Playing along with CAS(E) the Sketch for an anniversary card for my daughter and SIL
stamps & dies:  PTI Garden Grace, Beautiful Butterflies
I used a few of the PPP Lavendar Moon sequins

 Oh we have a beautiful day today...perfect temperature!
Hope you all have a good week!

Heart Hugs, friends!



Merry Monday ~ Peace, Love or Joy

Welcome to another MERRY MONDAY CHRISTMAS CARD CHALLENGE!
Bonnie wants us to use *Peace * Love* or Joy* on our cards this challenge.
I pulled out PTI Deck the Halls and inked it up.  I placed it on a piece of Altenew White Wood grain paper, it gives it a nice background texture!

Friends, the Merry Monday Christmas card challenge is planning to take the months of July and August off.
It seems to be a busy time of year  for not only the design team members, but all of our followers, so we are giving everyone a little break.  The challenge will resume on September 5!  We look forward to seeing you then!!
Heart Hugs, friends!



Sunday, June 19, 2016

Just Us Girls Colour Challenge

Just us Girls Challenge this week is a Colour Challenge.
I loved the colors:  hot pink, turquoise and mustard!
I used my copics to practice some more shading and flowers!
This is what I used:
You can see I used the hot pink colors, even though my card looks more red...hmm, must be operator error!!  *wink
 
I did some selective die cutting that I saw  on the MFT Blog

stamps & Dies:  Sugar Pea Designs:  Enchanted Garden
Impression Obession: Thin Stripes
I hope you will join in this challenge, the design team has some fabulous cards to inspire you!!

Heart Hugs, friends!



Copic Jumpstart Day 9


I am still practicing the Copic Jump Start class by Sandy Allnock.
This is a Digi from Tiddly Inks called Bloom Beautifully.
I used some new to me skin tones and hair!!  Sandy likes to use V15 for her shading of  hair, I tried it and kind of like it!! The hair was Y02 and Y17 plus the V15!
I also used a Uniball white pen to add some small dots to her dress.  I covered her shoes with Wink of Stella for shiny shoes!!
I also tried shading my little girl with a C1 and C3 copics
Heart Hugs, friends!



Saturday, June 18, 2016

CAS Mix UP June Challenge Jump Start Copic

I saw a very cool technique that Loll reminded me I love, so I used my new Essentials by Ellen: Mondo Hydrangea and used my copics because I took Sandy Allnocks Jump Start Class and I needed to color this image.
I stamped the flower, did a little masking for the leaf, then I die cut with a Lil' Inkers Stitched rectangle die.  I colored only the smaller rectangle with copics...added a few falling petals too. I adhered that smaller piece with foam.
You only have until the 24th to make a card for this challenge!
Go HERE to check out all the inspiration.

Heart Hugs, friends!



Thursday, June 16, 2016

Seize the Birthday June 16 NO topping!

Welcome to another Seize the Birthday Challenge!!
We do NOT have a topping this time, so ANYTHING GOES!!
We hope you will join us and please check out the awesome inspiration from the rest of the design team!

I tried this technique a while ago from Loll HERE.  She calls it splash watercolor background.  I made several papers with different colors.  I liked this red (actually distress inks:  abandoned coral and fired brick) and cut it out from an SSS balloon die.
Then I pulled out the cute Mama Elephant stamp and die set called Ella & Friends.
I just love that little "piglet" almost being taken away with the balloon!
I think the string must have come untied from Ella's tail...*wink

Thanks for stopping by, hope you all have a terrific weekend!!
Heart Hugs!

Monday, June 13, 2016

Merry Monday Photo Inspiration from Lesley!


Today our very own Lesley is providing a wonderful photo for our inspiration!
I saw the greens, reds and whites and wanted to use this NBUS stamp from Power Poppy called Bough Wow Wow.
I used these copics to color this image:
I hope you are taking some inspiration from this photo and from the other design team members and joining us this week for this Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge.
We are getting close to the half year, how are you doing on getting your Christmas cards done ahead of the hustle and bustle of the season? 

Heart Hugs, friends!



Friday, June 10, 2016

Sandy Allnock Copic Jumpstart Class

I am really learning a LOT in this class from Sandy Allnock.  You start at the very basics of coloring and she brings you through all the steps.  This was a little bear she drew for us to practice, I colored him, then cut him out and made a slit in his hand to hold a little heart.

If you are interested in taking this class you can go HERE to Sandy's Classes.  This is called Copic Jumpstart.  I would highly recommend it, especially if you are into copics and want to learn more about shapes and shading, she is a great teacher.

Heart Hugs, friends!



A Doggie Sympathy card

My daughter's best friend had to put their dog down.  He was about 13 years old and not in good health, Dina asked if I would make a card for her.  I checked out the dog's picture on FB and used Avery Elle Furry Friends to stamp and color the dog.  The picture I saw first was one of him running and I colored him with browns and grays and was ready to put the card together when I checked on FB again and the dog she was holding was black and gray!!  And I had even showed it to my daughter and she didn't say a word other than that is really nice mom, Em will love it!  But I didn't want to send a card that was supposed to be her dog, but didn't even have the same colors!  So back to the drawing board!  And I had to fussy cut it TWO times!!

My daughter loved it and I think Em will probably cry some more when she opens the envelope!
Have  great weekend, friends!

Heart Hugs, friends!



Thursday, June 9, 2016

Just Us Girls ~ BIRD


JUGS is ending today, but I managed to get a card made.
I used PTI Spring Woods and did a little masking and then sponging on distress ink.
(as well as a few splatters!)
My sentiment is from SSS Handwritten notes.
Today I am going for a knee procedure!
I am having a PRP procedure in both knees...
don't worry it is NOT invasive, I can go about my normal routine...no more no less, but am looking forward to doing more walking and not having pain in the future!
PRP= Platelet Rich Plasma

Heart Hugs, friends!