It's time to relax!

Happy Monday everyone! My card today features our new Adirondack chair image along with a portion of the Retirement greeting. I saw this sketch somewhere and wanted to give it a try. I decided to cut the circles first and then stamp the image inside so the placement would be just right. Very smart idea, however, I used blue CS and decided that it just didn't look right and wanted to go with black. No problem, I just used removable tape and attached the black CS underneath the blue one and die cut the circles in the exact same spots. Perfect, only the removable tape decided to really stick to the black CS and it tore when I tried to remove it. I was about ready to quit, but I gave it one more try and managed to get the circles cut in close enough spots for the chairs to look center stage. Some days the simplest things turn out so difficult!! Once I colored the chairs with Copics, I added the sentiment on a die cut banner and put everything together. Then I noticed some spots where I must have gotten glue or something on the black CS. I don't even remember touching glue, but....  So the green flowers are cover ups!! I think it's a really cute card, but boy was it ever frustrating to create!!

Be sure to check out this week's challenge to use Stars on your card. We'd love to see what you create!  Details can be see here.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope your creativity flows a bit smoother than mine did for this card!

shelia

Merry Monday Hat Challenge

The challenge at Merry Monday this week is to use a funky hat on your Christmas card. I decided to make my entire card a hat. It's a gift card holder and super easy to make. I can't remember where I first found the directions for making these. I have them printed out and in a binder, but there's no reference to where it came from. Here's my hat.

 

To create the hat you need a circle about 5 inches in diameter, cut in half. A punched strip is added to one half circle, then the other half circle is attached to just the border piece with a brad. I added the snowflake medallion along with the brad. Some glittery stars were added to the hat part. Here's the inside.

I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a couple of stars. The gift card slides in between the white strip and the blue part. When the top part is closed, the gift card is hidden.

You can see details of the Merry Monday challenge here.

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

DRS Designs' challenge: O my stars!

The challenge this week is to use stars on your card. First I thought about making a 4th of July card, but then realized I needed a grad card. I remembered that I purchased these glitter stars on sale somewhere and thought they'd be cute on a grad card. The card is pretty simple. The white panel was stamped with the sentiment, then embossed and layered on black CS before attaching it to the card base. The tassel was stamped on white and layered on the same black CS. The glitter stars were added and the card was complete. Easy peasy!!

We'd love to have you join in the fun. You could be the winner of some awesome stamps. You can see details here.

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Fleur De Lis Birthday Wishes

Today's card is fairly simple. I started by stamping the new Fleur De Lis stamp on white CS, colored with copics, die cut and layered on a blue Fleur De Lis die cut. The blues really do match in real life. I don't know what it is about blues, but they never look the same in the pic. Anyway, the vertical birthday greeting was stamped, die cut and layered on the same blue CS. A single Fleur De Lis was die cut and added to the top of the greeting banner. The white layer was embossed with a folder I found on clearance at Michaels last week. Some blue rhinestones were added to complete the look.

Be sure to check out this week's challenge  at DRS Designs. We'd love to have you play along!

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Merry Christmas!

This week DRS Designs is the proud sponsor of Christmas Stampin' All Year Long. The challenge is to create a Christmas card with ribbon or lace. I chose ribbon.

First I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Next I stamped the snow using the 4 in 1 Snow Village accessories stamp in VersaMark, embossed it with clear embossing powder and then sponged three shades of blue ink for the night sky. The snowy cabin and snow lines were stamped with Memento Black ink on a separate piece of white CS, colored with Copics, cut along the top edge and attached to the main panel. Everything was layered on navy CS before adding the sheer navy ribbon. Some lacy stickles were added to the snow lines, trees and cabin roof.

Be sure to check out this challenge. It's a great way to get a head start on your stash of Christmas cards. Plus you could be the winner of some amazing stamps!

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Challenges

I have two challenge cards today. This first one is for DRS Designs Color Challenge. Here are the colors:

And here is my card:

 

I started by stamping the new lighthouse image from DRS Designs on white CS, colored with Copics, die cut and layered on a scalloped red circle. The darker blue CS, which really does match the lighthouse roof better in real life, has sea shells stamped in VersaMark ink all over. A nestie border die was used to cut out the "bubbles" on the bottom. The greeting was stamped with black ink, die cut and attached at the top with glue dots. A red baker's twine bow completes the look.

 

You can check out the DRS Designs' challenge here.

My second card is for Our Daily Bread's Shining Light Inspiration Challenge.





I was inspired to create a Father's Day card. This did not turn out quite like I had in mind. The image was much harder for me to color than I expected. I stamped this image while at a friend's house last month, so I couldn't start over today when the coloring didn't go the way I wanted.  Maybe I should have used watercolors instead of Copics?! Anyway, here it is.

After coloring the image, I added some Wink of Stella white along the waves and even in the sand some. It doesn't show up too well in the pic, but it does look cute in real life. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and the edges sponged with Teal ink. It's popped up with foam squares so it goes over the baker's twine better.

You can check out the ODBD challenge here.

Thanks for stopping by!
shelia

Birthday Greetings

My card today features two new stamps from DRS Designs: Beach Birthday Greeting (480G) and Anchor (434G). The new beach themed stamps are lots of fun to work with and are perfect for right now! I started with a piece of white CS, stamped the Sea Grass image in TH Antique Linen, SU Old Olive and Archival Straw Mat. The splatter background was stamped in Antique Linen and I also sponged some of the Antique Linen around for sand. Gelatos were used for the water and SU Bashful Blue ink was sponged in for the sky with a couple of clouds masked in the background. The Birthday greeting was stamped in black ink. The anchor was stamped in Memento Black ink, colored with copics, fussy cut and glued on. After layering the panel onto Kraft CS, some jute was knotted and added to the bottom of the card. Everything is glued to a white card base.

The challenge at DRS Designs this week is "Beachy" and we'd love to have you show us some of your beach themed cards.

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Hooray! It's Summertime!

Today's card is for this week's challenge at DRS Designs:  "Just Beachy" It's the perfect opportunity to show off their newest beach themed stamps.

I started with a piece of watercolor paper and added some sandy colored gelato, then stamped the splatter background with Antique Linen ink after the gelato had dried. The soon to be released 4 in 1 sea shells (473F) were stamped on white CS, colored with Copics, fussy cut and added glue dots. I added some sparkle to the sea shells and the sand with a clear Sakura Gelly Roll pen. The sentiment is part of the Summertime greeting, which is stamped with Black ink. Some pink twine was added after layering the panel on pink CS and then everything is attached to the white card base.

Be sure to check out this challenge. We'd love to see your beach themed creations!

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Any Way You Slice it!

I created this card today for the Sketch Challenge at Split Coast Stampers. I had stamped and colored the golfer image and argyle background last week when I was working on some Father's Day cards, but I just couldn't get it put together in a way that I liked. So I left it on the craft table and moved on to other things. Today's sketch was perfect so I finally was able to put the card together. The little golf balls and sentiment are from Studio G.

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Perfect Summer Day!

My card today celebrates summer and picnics which usually means ants! So I just had to include a few. I started by stamping the watermelon and friend image on white CS with Memento Black ink, coloring with Copics, die cutting and layering on white CS. Next the ants were stamped along the top and bottom of the white panel. I decided this was too plain so I used a Spellbinders border die to cut out a couple of borders between the ants and the main image. The sentiment is part of the Broken Mower greeting. After stamping and die cutting it, some blue ink was sponged along the edges as well as the white panel and the white card base. A baker's twine bow completes the look.

This could also work for the "Over the Top" Challenge at DRS Designs this week. Your sentiment needs to be stamped or positioned over your image. You still have time to join in the fun. Details can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelia

ODBD Challenge

This week's Shining Light challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs is a color challenge. I made this card for a friend who's daughter has cancer and is undergoing surgery and then chemo. Not an easy time for either of them. I thought the verse would be an encouragement to my friend. Here are the colors for the challenge. You have to use at least three of these colors.

I started by stamping the morning glory image on white CS with Memento Black ink, coloring it with Copics, then die cutting the border with a Spellbinders die. The panel was layered on blue CS and then glued onto the orange card base. The Bible Verse was stamped with black ink on white CS, die cut and layered on the same orange CS. Some punched butterflies and rhinestones complete the look.

Thanks for stopping by!

shelia

Happy Birthday

Today I have a birthday card to share that I created for DRS Designs' Over the Top challenge. Your sentiment needs to be stamped over your image or part of your image. Here's my card.

I got a new spellbinder die last week that I really like. It's fun to use and not too complicated. I started by die cutting the design in black, then purple and pink. The butterfly was stamped on white CS, colored with Copics, the Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped over top, then it was die cut to fit in the middle square. Here's a close up of the butterfly square.

To put the card together, I started with a white panel, embossed it with a basket weave EF from Darice, layered it on black CS and then glued the die cut pieces down on the center of the card. Everything was then attached to a white card base. Some purple rhinestones were added to the corners to complete the look. I really like the look of this card. Hope you do too.

Be sure to check out the challenge at DRS Designs. You could be the winner this week! You can see details here.

Thanks for stopping by,
shelia

Happy Anniversaary

Wow, can you believe it is June 1st? After that long, cold winter, summer is just about here!! I am definitely enjoying the warmer weather and longer days.  My family has lots of birthdays and anniversaries during the summer months so I'm busy working on cards for those celebrations. I think I have all I need for June, now on to July.

A new spellbinder die was used to create this. I used both red and black CS to die cut.  Part of the Love is More Precious greeting was stamped on the white panel before it was embossed with a love EF from the Paper Studio. This was layered on black CS and then I glued the die cut pieces onto the card front. The rose was stamped on white CS, colored with copics, die cut and glued on the center square. Some red rhinestones were added along the curves of the design to complete the look. The rest of the sentiment is stamped inside the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

shelia