Dots, Dots & more Dots

I started this card by applying distress oxide inks over the Flowing Drops Stencil from Altenew. Then, matching the dotted paper that is behind the stenciled panel, I used Altenew's Halftone Stencil over the first stencil. I stamped the flip flops with the lighter ink and created the polka dots by applying darker ink using the Halftone Stencil again. The pink scalloped circle was die cut from more dotted paper and of course i couldn't let the white circle be plain, so I embossed it with more dots! The little star fish added a nice touch to the circle, and a few sequins added a little more pop to the background. Thanks for stopping by!

Adding this card to the Stencil Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.

Supplies Used: 

Stamps: The Stamps Of Life: flipflops2stamp; Simon Says Stamp: Sending and Wishing and You Matter

Inks: Distress Oxide: tumbled glass, mermaid lagoon, picked raspberry, fossilized amber

Dies: Spellbinders-Nestabilities: Scalloped Circles; MFT: A2 Stitched Circle STAX; Simon Says Stamp: Wishing

Other: Altenew: Flowing Drops Stencil and Halftone Stencil; The Paper Studio: A2 Medium Polka Dots Embossing Folder; Sequins

Ice Cream Ribbons

I set out to make a summery bday card so I pulled out MFT's Your'e the Sweetest Stamps & Dies. When I saw their latest Sketch Challenge, I just had to dig out these ice-cream colored ribbons - don't they just go so perfectly with the mint ice cream theme? I know I've made several of these types of cards in the past, but it was fun to be able to use all five of the ribbons, thanks to the inspirational sketch. 

The scalloped circle is popped up with a foam circle behind it, and the ice cream cone is popped up with foam adhesive squares for added dimension. I purposely adhered the ice cream scoops in a haphazard way to add interest. Finished off the background with a few creamy pink enamel dots. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Entering this in the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #501.

Supplies:

Ribbons & Paper: The Paper Studio

Stamps: My Favorite Things: You're the Sweetest

Dies: My Favorite Things: You're the Sweetest, Spellbinders: Scalloped Circles

Ink: My Favorite Things: Cotton Candy, Altenew: Espresso and Mountain Mist

Other: Nuvo Crystal Drops: Bubblegum Blush 

A Bunch of Birthday Wishes

Spending my "Sheltering At Home" Time in my Craft Room, adding to my stash of birthday cards. I'm really making good use of the DCWV paper pad called 'The Birthday Wishes Stack'. All of the papers are so cute just on their own, yet I still managed to embellish them all (even though I only added tiny enamel dots to the last one). I had so much fun making these bright and happy birthday cards! My 30 year old nephew got a big kick out of the card with his baby picture...hope the other cards can also bring smiles to the yet-to-be-named recipients! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies Used: ODBD: Ballons & Streamers, SSS: Wishing

Supplies Used: MFT: You're the Sweetest, Penny Black: YAY, Spellbinders: Classic Edges One, Brutus Monroe: Birthday Surprise Faux Sprinkles

Supplies Used:Sizzix: Stars #2, Graffiti

Supplies Used: Sunny Studio: Sweet Shoppe Stamps and Sweet die, Lawn Fawn: Here's the Scoop Stamps and Dies, Copics, TPS: small scallops scissors

Supplies Used: Nuvo Crystal Drops: Carnation Pink

Holographic Wishes

Entering this in the SC786 Challenge at Split Coast Stampers. Thought this would be super-quick because I used a panel I created some time ago, but as usual, it took some time to decide on which papers to use (I love that Stargazer paper!) and how to add the sentiment. I ended up using only part of the sentiment 'wishing you a lot of' so that I could simply add 'Happy Birthday' inside. I bought the holographic paper on clearance, and I can't help myself from always using it for any star. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Paper: The Paper Studio: Stargazer Foil Pad, DCWV: Holographics Mat Stack

Dies: Sizzix Originals: Stars #2, Sunny Studios: tiny double star, Simon Says Stamp: Fancy Frame Rectangle

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp: Happy 3x4

Ink: Distress: Fired Brick, Faded Jeans, Iced Spruce, VersaFine Onyx Black

Other: Perfect Pearls, Altenew Cube Builder Stencil

Summer Coolness

I was so excited to find this popsicle paper along with the coordinating drippy rainbow paper. How perfect for Lawn Fawn's here's the scoop stamp/die set! Sending this to my junior camp counselor on her final week. I miss my seventeen year old who has been gone all summer! She was home for July 4th, but that was forever ago. Guess it's good preparation for when she's off to college...I'm going to try to make the best of her last year home! 

Had fun coloring these cute little popsicles. Intended to add a coat of glossy accents, but, as usual, I didn't have time as I had to get this in the mail quickly so she would get it before she leaves camp! Funny thing about the glossy accents: I accidentally knocked it off my file cabinet, which led me to move the super-heavy piece of furniture laden with way too much paper. I ended up breaking the cabinet, so now I am forced to go through all my files! On top of that, I just bought a new standing-desk (with a huge crafting surface💙) so I was kind of already in the process of reorganizing my craft room. Hope I manage to finish this enormous task before Christmas!!

Supplies Used:
Ink: Copics, Memento: Tuxedo Black, Distress Oxide: Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade
Stamps: Lawn Fawn: here's the scoop
Dies: Lawn Fawn: here's the scoop, Nestabilities: Labels Eleven
Paper: The Paper Studio: dp, Recollections: Pink

Wishing On a Star

Made these two cards for My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #435. I have a ton of cards to make for the month of May, but sometimes when I HAVE to make a card, it isn't as much fun as just making a card because Inspiration hits. So rather than setting out to make one of the cards on my To-Do List, I set out to see what supplies I had that could fit this sketch. My recently purchased Stargazer Paper Pad made me think of my Rocket Scientist Niece who currently works with satellites (but whose birthday is not until August). While I was at it, I did manage to make a second card for a May Graduate so I get to check one off the To-Do List and I am actually ahead-of-the-game for August! Woo-hoo!

These cards were made very similarly, using string (embroidery floss), a die-cut star and a full moon (cut from a one of the papers) for the three circle shapes on the sketch.  The stars were colored by using a Brush Strokes stamp - the card above was embossed in Sapphire, while the card below was embossed with VersaMark then topped with Perfect Pearls. Both sentiments were embossed in Sapphire. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Paper: The Paper Studio: Stargazer Foil Pad

Dies: Sizzix Originals: Stars #2, Simon Says Stamp: Wishing, Wplus9: That is All (amazing)

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp: Sending and Wishing, Wplus9: That is All, Hero Arts: Brush Strokes (inside of Star)

Ink: VersaMark, VersaFine Onyx Black

Other: Perfect Pearls, Sapphire Embossing Powder, Fun Foam (behind the star)

Two Scoops

Another Ice Cream card...this time for the challenge at Freshly Made Sketches (FMS383). I have so much matching ribbon that I decided to use it for the top of this card. I am having a hard time cutting ribbon without it fraying - I miss the Ribbon Cutter I used to have that melted the ribbon to 'seal' it as it cut (it broke). (It was that one from Imaginesce - when it did work, it did a nice job.)  So I usually wrap the ribbon around cs to hide the frayed ends, but I didn't have a backing piece for this card, so I wrapped the ribbon around a separate piece of cs, then just adhered that to the card front. (Yay! No frayed edges to be seen!) 

While all those creamy papers were out, I made another simple card. I absolutely love those Stamps & Dies. TFL!

Supplies Used: 

Stamps/Dies: MFT You're the Sweetest

Paper/Ribbon: The Paper Studio

Inks: Altenew: Pinkalicious, Rocky Shore and Sand Dunes, Colorbox: Pink, and VersaFine: Vintage Sepia

Dies: MFT: Stitched Circles and Spellbinders: Scalloped Circles and Classic Edges One

Other: Fiskars: Open Scallop Border Punch: 

Minty Sweet Friend

Today's card brings a taste of summer even though the weather here in the midwest is more like winter! I just love the mint, pink and chocolate brown combination of these papers - perfect for Ice Cream cards, don't you think? I'm entering this card in the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #432. Love the creative inspiration over there. Fun site to visit! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies Used:

Stamps/Dies: MFT You're the Sweetest

Paper/Ribbon: The Paper Studio

Inks: Altenew: Pinkalicious and Rocky Shore, Colorbox: Mint

Stencil: Heidi Swap

CAS(E) this Sketch #185

This is the second card I am entering in ColourQ Challenge #354 (I hope multiple entries are allowed!). I have a feeling I am going to use this combo again & again because it is so striking! Again, I used a pretty blue rose but this time I used Sizzix Swirls instead of the MFT Medium Flourish. I think swirls/flourishes are so versatile, I imagine one can never have enough of these in one's stash! I added some black hearts under this sentiment and also used the more detailed leaf stamps from Altenew. The Vinatage Roses Stamps/Dies are one of my all-time favorites. It takes a little practice to get the layers lined up, but once they are just right, the MISTI makes creating multiple images incredibly easy. That tool is worth every penny! I'm also entering this card in the CAS(E) this Sketch #185 Challenge. TFL!

I was inspired by this awesome card by Wanda Cullen (sorry for not referencing this sooner):

Supplies Used:

Stamps: SSS: Happy (sentiment) and Sending & Wishing (hearts), Altenew: Vintage Roses
Ink: Distress: Black Soot, Memento: Tuxedo Black, London Fog and Bahama Blue, Stampabilities: Baby Blue, Colorbox: Cyan
Dies: Altenew: Vintage Roses, Sizzix Swirls
Other: SSS Diagonal Stripe Stencil, The Paper Studio scalloped scissors

Fab Friday 93

Oh how I just LOVE the color combo of ColourQ Challenge #354! This is the first of two cards I am entering in that challenge today. Wanted to use the gorgeous Vintage Roses Stamps & Dies and was very happy with how the cool blue rose turned out. When I saw the color challenge, I immediately decided to use my new diagonal stripe stencil in black. I cut a small scallop border on the blue paper before adhering my striped strip. The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of white cardstock I had die cut using the matting basics dies to which I added a black outline border with a marker. I stamped some plain, simple leaves in grey and tucked them under the rose and added a small scalloped strip of blue under the sentiment box. I'm also entering this card in the Fab Friday 93 Sketch Challenge. TFL!

I was inspired by this awesome card by Jen (sorry for not referencing sooner): 

Supplies Used:

Stamps: SSS: Happy (sentiment), Altenew: Vintage Roses
Ink: Distress: Black Soot, Memento: Tuxedo Black, London Fog and Bahama Blue, Stampabilities: Baby Blue, Colorbox: Cyan
Dies: MFT: Medium Fancy Flourish, Spellbinders: Card Creator A2 Matting Basics B, Altenew: Vintage Roses, Sizzix Swirls (leaves)
Other: SSS Diagonal Stripe Stencil, The Paper Studio scalloped scissors

Horse Love

Adding these cards to the Mix It Up Challenge #8 at Sugar Peas Designs. Their sketch was a good starting point for me as I knew I wanted to use these horse stickers (since my girls are at Horse Camp this week), but I just needed a sketch idea to get a design going. I've been trying to figure out how to add a little something to get that 'complete' look to my rather simple cards, and for these cards, distress inks seemed to do the trick. They make all the elements pop - a big difference in real life I took a photo of a before shot to help illustrate what a little distress ink can do. I just love my distress inks (perhaps that is why I own so many!!). TFL!

Before & After Inking:

Supplies Used:

Dies/Punches: Sizzix Heart #2, Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts Set, Fiskars Bubbles Border Punch, EK Flourish Scroll Border Punch
Inks: Distress: Mermaid Lagoon, Walnut Stain & Wild Honey
Darice Wood Grain EF
Paper: We R Memory Keepers: Happy Campers
Other: the Paper Studio Puffy Horse Stickers, Darice Twine

Celebrating Seven

Card #2 for today....this one is for my seven-year-old nephew. I used Sketch #508 over at Split Coast Stampers. What a great place to get inspired! I had fun pulling out my old Sizzix Gifts dies and was happy to find a yellow number seven sticker. And, I got to use some scraps for all the die cuts!

Supplies Used:
Paper: from my stash
Stamps: TSOL
Dies: Sizzix Gifts, Nestabilities Labels Eleven
Other: The Paper Studio Medium Polka Dots EF, The Paper Studio Twine

Happy Summer Cards

 Finally got to use my TSOL stamps: flipflops2stamp. Had the perfect paper to use for this set! First up is a Thank You which follows the SC489 Sketch over at Splitcoaststampers. 

Supplies Used:

Paper: TPS

Stamps: TSOL flipflops2stamp & freebie Thank You

Ink: TH Distress Inks: Picked Raspberry & Salty Ocean

Dies: Spellbinders: Scallop & Classic Circles, Sizzix: Frames, Circle Combo

Other: VersaMark & white embossing powder, Ribbon, Sequins

Next, is a pair of cards all ready to send to my daughters while they are away at camp this summer. (There is much to do to get the girls ready for their week-long stay, but somehow making them at least this one card was the priority at the moment!) These flip flop stamps are so fun! I used my other TSOL stamp sets for the clouds & suns. I did have a bit of a disaster happen though: I'm a very messy stamper and once the creative juices start flowing, I pull out EVERYTHING all AT ONCE - and so I nearly lost one of my clear stamps! I spent nearly an hour going through EVERYTHING but no luck. Then, the next morning, there it was: staring right at me, attached to a laminated card I had propped up on my desk. I need to have a dedicated craft space already. Seriously!!

Supplies Used:

Paper: TPS

Stamps: TSOL flipflops2stamp, crazy4daisies, back2basics, happyBday2you

Ink: TH Distress Inks: Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry & Salty Ocean

Other: CM tearing tool

Sweet 16

The third daughter of my sister will be turning 16 next week. I think this paper from The Paper Studio is perfect...I actually used the same paper for my  other two nieces' 16th birthdays. I had a hard time die-cutting the numbers, as I used double-sided tape so I could add some pink glitter. The black scalloped circle got rather messy after the glitter was applied, so I scraped it off the best I could and then added Glossy Accents to the whole scalloped circle embellishment. Now it glitters and shines! Hope she likes the card. TFL!

Supplies Used: 

Paper: The Paper Studio

Dies: TSOL flower2doodle, Sizzix Graffiti

Other: flower punch, EK Success Border Punches, Ribbon, Flourish Stickers, Sparkle N Sprinkle Glitter (Mauvelous), Glossy Accents, Ribbon

Here are the other two girls' sixteenth birthday cards from a few years ago: