Bugaboo Anniversary Card

Hi! Thursday is our 39th wedding anniversary, so I made a humorous card for Jack. 

He prefers SIMPLE - 

                                    NO GLITTER - (imagine that!) - 

                                                                                          and lots of SILLINESS. 

I found the perfect image at Bugaboo Stamps, and used some of the colors in their inspiration photo.

It is a 5x7 card (A7), colored with Copic Markers.

I wasn't sure if this qualifies for Clean and Simple since it has layers. 

If it is perfectly flat, does that make it CAS?

I am participating in the following challenges:

• Catch the Bug Challenge (April 25 - May 1) Inspiration Photo at left (used the colors in the carrots, greenery, orange, gold shed, brown wagon, mountains and dress color blue-purple)  5/1

• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #8 Anything Goes - 5/1
• 613 Avenue Create #121 Anything Goes with Humorous Sentiment (5/2)

Thanks for the fun challenge AND the perfect image, Jodie!

hugs,

Stamp Club Heart-Flourish challenge

Welcome, dear blogging friends! I hope you and your families are well.

This month our stamp club was challenged by Terry Weigand to case a card using Papertrey Ink's flourish stamp. The pretty card was created by Lisa at her "I'm In Haven" blog.

Here is Lisa's card we cased:

The images were stamped on 4.25 x 5.5 white card stock, and each person took several to work on.

It was a great challenge and lots of fun!

Two weeks later, here are my four finished cards.

Green-Black-Yellow:

A8 size card

Close Up of papers used in project.

Using the same design elements on the interior.

Green-Purple:

It's so enjoyable using this shape to make cards.

Using long-forgotten-about Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch

Card interior employing the same theme elements.

More cards:

Turquoise and Black:

A7 (5x7) size - the frame is actually my first attempt at cutting out chip board, and then glittering it, of course.

Carried out the shape theme on the inside.

Turquoise and Orange:

First - a little tip to share:

if reading from my blog, please click images to enlarge

Finished Card:

Card Interior Uses the same die cut set.

Thanks for visiting today - and thanks for a great challenge day, Terry!

CHALLENGES I'm playing in:

1. Addicted to stamps - #141 Anything Goes (used PTI Flourish Stamp on 4 cards, and a variety of stamped sentiments) 4/27
2. Deep Ocean Blog - #102 Shaped Card (my Green-Purple card above) 5/4
3. Die Cuttin Divas - #212 National Garden Month - include something you would find in a garden (my last card includes trellis work, lots of flowers, a butterfly, and the love of gardening depicted by the hearts!) 4/26

Products Used: (all cards use PTI Flourish)

Aqua/Black card
Spellbinders 5x7 Modern Stationary
Memory Box Beloved Hearts
SNS Black Ice glitter
Sentiment:  interior by PSX

Green/Purple card
Spellbinders Grand Labels 23
Spellbinders Grand Ovals and Grand Scallop Ovals
Spellbinders Petite Ovals and Petite Scallop Ovals
Cottage Cuts Leaf trio
Memory Box Beloved Hearts
Life Style Nesting Hearts
Martha Stewart Heart Seal Punch
Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch
Darice 5x7 Dots Embossing Folder
Sentiments: front by Hero Arts, interior by PSX

Green/Black card
Sentiment: interior A-Line Stamps, front by Paper Trey
Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms
Memory Box Beloved Hearts

Martha Stewart Loops Hearts Punch set

Martha Stewart Heart Seal Punch

Cottage Cuts Leaf trio

Cheery Lynn Olive Branches

Turquoise/Orange card

Sentiment: interior PSX Stamps, front by Paper Trey
Memory Box Leavenworth Butterfly Trio (filigree)
Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio (solid)
Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch

Prills by USArtquest

SNS Waterscape glitter

Spellbinders 5x7 Elegant Labels 4

Life Style Nesting Hearts

Darice Nesting Hearts

stamping hugs,

Lace and Pearls from the Heart {Scrapy Land}

Happy Spring, everyone! And welcome to my humble little blog. 

Special welcome to new follower Becca Cruger.

Sadly, this will be my last post with the marvelous Scrapy Land design team - best team ever! Such kindness and encouragement in one place - I cannot thank my teamies enough for a very enriching and supportive experience!
Be watching soon for a Guest Design Team option at the SL Challenge blog!

This is Scrapy Land's 16th Challenge!

Challenge #16 is open from April 15 until May3. 

The theme is "PEARLS AND/OR LACE" using any die manufacturer which Scrapy Land sells".  Scrapy Land sells over 40 brands of dies, including overseas products, and many are discounted.
The prize is a $15 gift card - good for anything in the Scrapy Land store!

My cards feature the following Scrapy Land dies.
(for all the dies used, please see the product list at bottom of post)

Scrapy Land Memory Box - Riviera Corner MBD-98372

Scrapy Land Memory Box - Elegant Scrollwork MBD-98153
Scrapy Land Memory Box - Chloe Stem
Scrapy Land Memory Box - Leavenworth Butterfly Trio (filigree)
Scrapy Land Memory Box - Cascadia Butterfly Trio (solid)
Scrapy Land Spellbinders -  Bitty Blossoms S5-086
Scrapy Land Cheery Lynn - "Cherish" B415

TIP:

When using semi-transparent glitter or embossing powder on die cuts, be sure to distress or shade the edges of your die cuts.
(It brings more dimension to the die cuts after the glue dries, because the ink can be seen through the glitter as shown on the leaves in my project)

TIP:

How to create a frame when you do not have dies the size needed.
(if reading from my blog, please click on the photo below to enlarge the print)

Love the pretty script on Cheery Lynn's word dies, especially when they are shadowed with a darker color. The pearl dotting the "i" is colored with a Copic Marker. The Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork die cut is timeless, and customized with SNS Mulberry Star EP. Little pearls grace the body of the butterfly (links for die cuts shown below).

Memory Box's Chloe Stem is coated with Prills in the color called "mini pearls" as part of the Scrapy Land Challenge this fortnight.

The SL designers enjoy seeing your fabulous works of art! You are all an inspiration to us!

The Path of Positivity Challenge has a wonderful theme this month. It's all about GROWTH. I thrive in the process of Growth - even those periods of 

     extreme complications, 

          challenges, 

               unpleasantness. 

But surprisingly I have learned (for me) that my Greatest Growth takes place when 

• things are SEEMINGLY good, 
• or 
• when I cease to struggle (using up precious energy) in a particular hardship
• especially when I am "at rest" despite the circumstances.  

I call this "embracing the challenge", though I may not like what is happening, or respond OUTWARDLY in a manner that others think I should.

When Life is not its prettiest, we look for ways to make it pretty - we work hard to change whatever is troubling us; so Change is often a natural outcome from that. But Change and Growth are not always synonymous.

When things are soooo Good (typically when we do not recognize that "things are good"), we might not realize that the Status Quo needs a bit of shaking up, to help us deepen our commitments to certain people or causes - even commitments to ourselves. Sometimes, when everything is "going our way", we bask in the easiness of life, and forget the preciousness of

     every little aspect of life, 

          every tiny moment, 

               every soul who crosses our path - 

we might even tend to take the goodness for granted (though that is never our intention).  

Like my card, The Heart Shape had to morph, undergoing lots of cut ups, inking, dry embossing, gluing, shaping, before it began to come together in a format I had not previously imagined. It remained rather flexible in my hands during the arduous transformation. Our lives can be like that. I treasure every stumbling block, every moment of life, because it is THOSE ISSUES which cause the Real Me to come through - both my Flaws AND my Strengths become more visible.

Friday, a Stamping Buddy came over to play. I explained to her that it is the Process of Creation I most enjoy - 

     far more than the actual finished project. 

• I enjoy watching plants grow from seeds. 
• I enjoy having to prune plants to nubs on occasion, because it is good for them - then I get to watch how they re-emerge prettier than ever. 
• I allow the "dead blossoms" to sometimes seed, even though the plant's sickly appearance gives the viewer a desire to cut off the "dead blossoms" or to think it needs to be watered. 
• In my heart, (in faith), I know the plant is still growing, and producing the POTENTIAL FOR NEW LIFE. 

Though we may be 
     fragile, 
          vulnerable, 
               hurt, 
                    afraid, 
                         or lonely, 

it's entirely possible that we are in that "seed bearing" mode, where Growth is not apparent - YET - but where the potential of growth is just around the corner. Sometimes Growth requires patience, rest, faith and to continue "walking in mercy" regardless of what is happening around us and in us.

I'd love hearing what Growth means to you!

Products Used:

• Scrapy Land Memory Box - Riviera Corner MBD-98372
• Scrapy Land Memory Box - Elegant Scrollwork MBD-98153
• Scrapy Land Memory Box - Chloe Stem
• Scrapy Land Memory Box - Leavenworth Butterfly Trio (filigree)
• Scrapy Land Memory Box - Cascadia Butterfly Trio (solid)
• Scrapy Land Spellbinders -  Bitty Blossoms S5-086
• Scrapy Land Cheery Lynn - "Cherish" B415
• Life Style Scallop and Plain nesting heart dies
• EK Success corner punch, MS border punch, Couture Creations embossing folder
• INKS: Distress Inks dye base, VersaMarker

• 
  Sparkle N Sprinkle: Brushable Glue, Mulberry Star EP, Sunny Daze Glitter, Spirited Green Glitter

• Image: freebie digital heart colored with Copics (I'm sorry, the name of the pretty heart image is not in my records, but it might have been from Digital Tuesday.)

• Lace, fabric flower, mini flowers and Pearls from stash

• USArtquest Prills in "minnie pearls" color (on Chloe die cut)

Fun Challenges participating in:

• Craft for the Craic (fun) - April "Die-ing for Spring" must use die cut with Spring theme - this card is full of Spring Time colors, flowers and butterflies - dies listed above (5/1)

• The Shabby Tea Room - #249 "Rainbow of Colors" inspiration photo to left (4/20)

• Crafts 4 Eternity - #221 Texture - prills, lace, glitter, embossing powder, silk flowers, pearls, glitter, dry embossing (4/15)

• Jo's Scrap Shack - #83 Florals and Butterflfies - I hope using the die cuts for the theme is acceptable with the spring green, heart shaped fauna (4/17)

• The Pink Elephant - #294 photo inspiration at left (4/20)

• The Path of Positivity - #25 Growth - (5/3) (paragraph written in blog post) (end of May?)

• Ooh-La-La Challenges - #178 At Least 5 layers (5/1)

• Creative Colors Challenge - #33 Use 3 Colors from the Inspiration Photo shown at left [pale pink, bright pink, lime green, yellow (ceiling) deep plum-lavender (embossing powder)] (4/30)

• Outlawz Paper Ala Mode - (Apr 11-17) "Pretty In Pink" - grab your pink! PAM04112015 (1st week May)

• DiesRUs Challenge - #24 May Flowers - must use dies (please see grocery list above) 5/1

stamping hugs,

Spring Time Glitter and Die Cuts {Scrapy Land #15}

Welcome to my projects for the 15th Scrapy Land Challenge!

Today's green projects feature the Die-Namites "It's Spring" with:

A7 size Spellbinders Card Creators dies and Spellbinders Grands 

with an A2 size Die-Namites die. 

I have also created an A8 size card using the A2 size Die-Namites die and a Sue Wilson Gemini Series Phoenix Set. 

In addition are two very simple A2 (4.5" by 5.5") cards.

It was fun combining the shapes and three sizes.

Challenge #15 is open from April 15 until April 26. 

The theme is "ANYTHING GOES" using any die manufacturer which Scrapy Land sells".  Scrapy Land sells over 40 brands of dies, including overseas products, and many are discounted.
The prize is a $15 gift card - good for anything in the Scrapy Land store!

My cards feature the following Scrapy Land dies.
(for all the dies used, please see the product list at bottom of post)

• Scrapy Land - Memory Box Creekside Leaves MBD 98816
• Scrapy Land - Memory Box Chloe Stem MBD 98321
• Scrapy Land - Die-Namites "It's Spring" DN-1163
• Scrapy Land - Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish B117
• Scrapy Land - Sue Wilson Gemini Series Phoenix Set CED4401
• Scrapy Land - Spellbinders Card Creator Sets
• Scrapy Land - Spellbinders Grand Die Sets

This should give you an idea of the size of the Die-Namites "It's Spring" die. 

(It is not adhered to the cardstock yet)

It cut cleanly in my Grand Calibur with one try (the white paper is 110 pound).

Simple card on pearly Star-Dream cardstock:

The green and white cards are size A7 (5" x 7"). They are made entirely of WHITE CARDSTOCK. The white layer is covered with Sparkle N Sprinkle Mountain Mint Velvet Glitter.

The glitter changes color with any movement. This photo was taken at the same time and in the same place as the photo above:

The leaves were also die cut with white cardstock, inked, and coated with Sparkle N Sprinkle Green Iris Ultrafine Glitter.

Here is a flat card for mailing (using a different card creator frame):

There is a strip of 3/4" Tear-ific tape on the inside of these cards, burnished with more Mountain Mint glitter.

I made a larger A8 size card. In the US, flat A8 cards still use a single postage stamp, unless the card weighs more than 1 ounce. This one is dimensional, so it will cost a little more:

A close-up of the featured die cut and dimensional layers. The Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish is coated with Sparkle N Sprinkle Waterscape Ultrafine Glitter. The flowers were "striped" with a little Copic Marker "pink".

Close up of the Sue Wilson Gemini Series Phoenix Set:

My favorite is the white on white card. I really like the details of the featured die!

Show us "your stuff" for this fortnight's challenge at Scrapy Land! We love being inspired by your pretty cards and projects.

Products Used:

• Scrapy Land - Memory Box Creekside Leaves MBD 98816
• Scrapy Land - Memory Box Chloe Stem MBD 98321
• Scrapy Land - Die-Namites "It's Spring" DN-1163
• Scrapy Land - Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish B117
• Scrapy Land - Sue Wilson Gemini Series Phoenix Set CED4401
• Scrapy Land - Spellbinders Card Creator Sets
• Scrapy Land - Spellbinders Grand Die Sets
• Spellbinders A7 Card Creator Basics A
• Spellbinders A7 Detailed Scallops
• Spellbinders A7 Elegant Labels 4
• Spellbinders Grand Labels Twenty-three
• Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms
• LifeStyle nesting scalloped hearts
• MS Lace Doily and Flower border punches.
• Floral Wire (for embellishments)
• Recollections white flowers, jewel flowers and pearls
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Mountain Mint Velvet Glitter, Green Iris Ultrafine Glitter, Waterscape Ultrafine Glitter, Double-sided Super Adhesive sheets and .75 inch and 2.5 inch Double Sided Tear-ific Tapes
• Perfect Paper Adhesive, Prima Flowers, Copic Markers, Dimensionals
• Hero Arts mini salutations
• Cardstock: white, navy, pink, StarDream Pink

Sweet Challenges I am playing in:

1. Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges (April) Anything Goes with G & EP (loose glitters listed above) 4/30
2. Creative Card Crew - #84 Handmade Flowers (navy-white-pink card - the flowers are handmade) 4/12
3. Die Cuttin' Divas - #209 Anything Goes with a die cut (several die cuts in the cards, but all feature the same "It's Spring" die cut) 4/5
4. Through the Craft Room Door - (Mar 31-Apr 6) Anything Goes 4/6
5. Artistic Inspirations Challenges #128 Anything Goes with Flowers (navy-white-pink card - the flowers are handmade, and green card has flowers and leaves) 4/11
6. Cards In Envy - (Mar 16) Spring CAS only submitting my A2 pink/white card and my A2 white on white card) 4/11 
7. Crafting from the Heart #53 - Anything Goes - 4/4
8. Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #221 Anything Goes 4/7

Stamping hugs,