Bark Less Card

Hello and Welcome!

I love the look of pink and gold together. Here is a cute card I made for my dog-loving Aunt:

I used Ellen Hutson's Bokeh Dots stamp set with Versamark and Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder on watercolor paper. Then I added 3 shades of pink with my Artist's Loft watercolors. The pup known as Lefty is by Taylored Expressions. The sentiment is from the same TE set. This card is based on the sketch at the Share Joy Challenge blog and the colors were inspired by a mood board at Ellen Hutson. The stitched frames are by Lawn Fawn. I finished off this card with machine stitching by the sentiment and Pretty Pink Posh clear sequin. I also used 3L foam squares to pop up the pup (say that 3x fast:).



This card is entered in:

• Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - It's A Stitch Up

• Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge 50 

              




Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Tim's August Tag

Hello and Welcome!

I am normally a Clean and Simple girl, but sometimes you got to get your grudge on. Cue Mr. Holtz! It has been a while since I made a tag with him, and forgot just how much fun it is. Here is my take on his great August technique tag:

Most of the materials are by Tim Holtz and Ranger. I used Broken China & Wild Honey stains with my brayer for the background. I stayed pretty true to his design, just enjoying the process and letting things flow. I did add Ranger Alcohol Inks to some of the mirrored hexes. The star is TH Grudgepaper that was inked with Vintage Photo ink and embellished with a TH decorative brad. The hex was made with TH's Honeycomb Frameworks that was used with TH's Textured Surfaces and mirrored paper. To see a complete list of supplies and a fabulous step-by-step process, follow the link below and have fun creating your own tag!

This tag is entered in:

• Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2016 - August Tag challenge

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Hey Good Lookin' Layout

Hello and Welcome!

My husband let my son and me upgrade his wardrobe and now he looks so awesome. Check it out:

The cute fashion tags and great designs of Fancy Pants' Good Fellows collection was perfect for this layout. I added buttons, metal buckles and washi tape. The layout was finished off with machine stitching. This page is based on a sketch by Grand Diva and inspired by the colors and title on Let's Get Sketchy's mood board.

This page is entered in:

• The August Sketch Challenge at Grand Diva's Creative Corner

                   

• Rochelle Spears' August This or That Challenge (I used washi)

• The "It's A Stitch Up" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "It's Hip To Be Square" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The August Week 5 Challenge at Let's Get Sketchy (mood board)

                   

-june
 

Peony Layout

Hello and Welcome!

For years we had this dead spot in the backyard because the sun was so intense. A friend suggested I try planting peonies. I was very skeptical, but they not only survived - they are thriving! Check it out:

I used the bright fun papers from Simple Stories, Sunshine & Happiness and stickers from Bloom & Grow. (Don't you just love that gnome!) The page is based on a sketch at Let's Get Sketchy. The chipboard letters are by Heidi Swapp. I also added a bakers twine around the banner and Ranger's Liquid Enamel dots.

This page is entered in:

• The August Week 1 sketch challenge at Let's Get Sketchy

                   

• The "It's Hip To Be Square" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Robots At State Layout

Hello and Welcome!

It was a great robotic season for Aaron this year. He grew and matured so much. Jeff and I are so proud of him. These photos were taken at the Minnesota State Tournament, the last of this season:

This layout was inspired by the mood photo at Creative Embellishments, with the colors, circular & shinny metal elements. The gears are by Creative Embellishments. The pattern papers, metallic corrugated paper, ribbon and tags are by Recollections. The title & fussy cut robots are from papers by We R'. The letters stickers are by Tim Holtz. This layout is based on a design by Let's Get Sketchy.

This page is entered in:

• The "It's Hip To Be Square" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp - there is a square photo and the entire page is square. 

• The August Challenge at Creative Embellishments

• The August Week 4 sketch challenge at Let's Get Sketchy

                   

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Jazz Band Layout

Hello and Welcome!

I saw a great layout by Jamie Waters where she filled her page with word sticker around her photo. I wanted to try something like that. So when this great design came up at Let's Get Sketchy, I knew it would be a good fit especially with this photo:

The word stickers are by K & Co. Square journaling block is Simon Say Stamp's Quadrangles die cut. The pattern papers are by Fancy Pants. The letters are by Thickers and Elle's Studio. The trumpets are a die cut by Ellentina. The layout is based on a sketch at Let's Get Sketchy.

This is entered in:

• The "It's Hip To Be Square" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The August Week 2 sketch challenge at Let's Get Sketchy

                   

Hope you find some inspiration to use your letter sticker stash,
-june

Last Day Layout

Hello and Welcome!

Yesterday I treated myself to a day at the craft store picking through their stuff and created my own "kit." It was so much fun. (I also have a new appreciation for all of those kit companies; it's hard work, too.) As my son & hubby were gone all day, I got to sit down and create.

Love this picture of my son after he finished his last day of 9th grade. Oh, the joy! Jeff & I always celebrate with him by going out to Coldstone Ice Cream and playing Alice Cooper's "Schools Out."

The pattern papers, tags, flowers & wood are by Recollections. I also added silver thread, October Afternoon rub-ons, Sizzix journal diecut and Martha Stewart's border punch. The title was embellished with Ranger's black Liquid Enamel. The splatters were made with Heidi Swapp's Color Shine (gold, black, white) on Bazzil's gray cardstock. At this point I thought my clusters needed more "pizazz," so I added Simon Says Stamp's Loopy Circles diecut - love them. This layout is based on a sketch by Stuck?!  Sketches.


This layout is entered in:

• The August 15th Challenge at Stuck?! Sketches

• The "Make For The Border" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Hope you can be this happy today,
-june

Happy Mom Day

Hello and Welcome!

This was such a happy day. Love looking back at the fun and love of my wonderful family.

All of the pattern papers are from Elle Studio's Little Moments collection. Love how Cheery Lynn's Sunflower die can double as gerber daisies. I added doilies behind the flowers to accent them. I also used Cheery Lynn's Mini Fanciful Flourish for the greenery. The title was created from dies from Heidi Swapp and Lil' B. The boarder accents were made with a punch by Martha Stewart. Colors were inspired by the Art for Inspiration challenge at Challenge YOUrself. I finished this page off with Ranger's liquid enamel dots around the flowers.

This page is entered in:

• The "Summer Fun" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "Make For The Border" Wednesday Challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The Sketch Thursday Challenge (August 18th) at Elle's Studio 

                   

• Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #236 "Doilies"

• Challenge YOUrself #32 "Art for Inspiration" 

                   

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Summer Loving Card

Hello and Welcome!

This is my last card for Camp Create at the My Favorite Things blog. It is also my inlaws anniversary, and as they live out in the country, I thought they would like this card:

The background is the My Favorite Things Sun rays die cut, which by following the Divine Dry Emboss video, I was able to emboss on yellow cardstock. The cows are from MFT's Whole Herd stamp set and were colored with Copic markers, then fussy cut. I also added a bow tie & a twine bow to dress them up. The cloud is MFT's Stax Die-namic. The sentiment is from the Coffee Helps set by Verve Stamps. I was inspired by colors and how the sun here looks like the dream catcher.

This card is entered in:

• MFT Camp Create "Divine Dry Embossing" at My Favorite Things

                   

• The "Summer Fun" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "Make For The Border" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 371

• The August Inspiration Challenge at Verve Stamps

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you get a chance to try some of the techniques at MFT's Camp Create.
-june

Happy Day Floral Card

Hello and Welcome!

I loved the card Gayatri did for the Rerun challenge over at Winnie & Walter's blog. Although I do not have W&W's In Bloom: Lola's Bouquet, I was able to do something similar with W& W's In Bloom: Ann's Flora. Here is my take:

I also used Ellen Hutson's Bokeh Dots stamp set for the background. The sentiment is masked from holiday greeting by My Favorite Things Trim A Tree set. The vase is a die cut by Lifestyle. I finished off this card with sequins, silver thread and Ranger's Liquid Pearls in the center of the flower.

This card is entered in:

• Ellen Hutson's August Mix It Up Challenge

• Winnie & Walter's Rerun Challenge No. 13

• Color Challenge 51 at MFT Card Challenges

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Shadow Stamping

Hello and Welcome!

Today I tried a new technique, shadow stamping. It is part of My Favorite Things' Camp Create.

I used My Favorite Things Celebrate Big stamp set for the sentiment. I liked how this technique looks with words. The flowers are by Raisin Boat Stamps. The inks are by Taylored Expressions, Hero Arts and Stampin' Up.

This card is entered in:

• MFT Camp Create "Stunning Shadow Stamping" at My Favorite Things

                    

•  The "Summer Fun" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Treat Bag

Hello and Welcome!

With my Aunt June and Uncle Tom coming to visit soon, I thought it would be fun to make them a treat bag. Here it is:



I used inspiration from My Favorite Things Camp Create Remarkable Resist method. The heart (from Simon Says Stamps Music 2 My Ears set) was heat embossed with WOW's teal powder, then I stamped the My Favorite Things sentiment from their Celebrate Big set with Versamark and heat embossed again with Ranger's black powder. Then using the resist method, I ink blended Mustard Seed over everything and cut it out with a circle punch. I added a Prima flower, MFT Royal Leaves die cut and Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterfly die cut. The tiny Simon Say Stamp "hello" on top was also stamped with Versamark, embossed with Stampendous white powder, and again using the resist method ink blended with Mustard Seed Distress ink and die with MFT's Mini Wavy Banners.

This project is entered in:

• The "Try to Contain Yourself" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #235 "Back to Nature"

• MFT Camp Create - Remarkable Resist at My Favorite Things

                   

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Happy Halloween Card

Hello and Welcome!

With all the fun, new holiday releases coming out right now, I was inspired to get a jump on Halloween. Here I used new and old die sets from Poppy Stamps:

I used Poppy Stamps new Hip Halloween Circle die and made it into a shaker container. Love that the outer circle cuts separately to make a nice accent. Next I cut out Poppy's older Elegant Mask die from Peridot green card stock. To finish it off, Simon Says Stamp stars from their Large Holiday Shapes die cut were added in metallic copper.

This card is entered in:

• Poppystamps challenge #23 "Shake It Up"

• The "Try to Contain Yourself" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The July Work It Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

TCP Card

Hello and Welcome!

Today I am playing around with The Cat's Pajamas "First Christmas" stamp set. Love the looks on the kitty's and puppy's faces. I stamped the critters with Hero Arts hybrid ink and colored them with Copic markers. I created the background by masking and blending Distress inks. The wonderful raindrops are from Designs By Ryn. The sun, clouds and scallop frame are from W Plus 9.






This card is entered in:

•  Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 371
• 
• 
  
• Designs By Ryn Aug. Customer Creation Challenge

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Whole Herd Card

Hello and Welcome!

Thought it would be fun to play around with My Favorite Things "Whole Herd" set and do their Camp Create Bonfire and Color Challenge. Here is my single layer card:

I started by stamping & masking the critters from MFT's Whole Herd stamp set and coloring them with Copic markers. Then I masked everything and blended several Distress Inks to create the colorful background. I  added the sentiment from the same MFT set and heat embossed it. It was finished off by adding this panel to white cardstock.

This card is entered in:

• The "Single Layer Savvy" Bonfire Challenge at MFT Camp Create

                    

• Color Challenge 51 at MFT Card Challenge

• The "Let's Go Wild" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp 

• The July Work-It-Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Come join the fun at these challenges. Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Robot Thanks Card

Hello and Welcome!

Here is another thank you note for my son's robotics team, using the Awesome Ombre technique from My Favorite Things Camp Create:

I used Taylored Expressions' "Thanks" die cut, color blended with Ranger Crayons on watercolor pape,r and glued to die cut black craft foam. The robot is a stamp by Tim Holtz, which was stamped with Versamark on watercolor paper, heat embossed with Ranger Clear powder, colored with Ranger Crayons, and fussy cut. The background is My Favorite Things' English Brick stencil with Fire Brick & Barn Door Distress inks. The entire panel was cut with Simon Says Stamps' stitched frame die from their Bundle of Stitched Shapes.

This card is entered in:

• Camp Create "Awesome Ombre" at MFT Stamps

                    

• MarkerPop! Challenge #101 "Embossing!"

                   

• Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge 48

                   

• The "Let's Go Wild" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp - because I got a little wild with the colors for the sentiment

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Baby Layout

Hello and Welcome!

I have had this B&W photo of myself as a baby floating around my art room for months looking for a home. So I was very happy when Pinkfresh Studio offered a challenge to use a B&W photo. Here is the layout:

Pinkfresh Studio's challenge was not just to use a B&W photo, but to include only 2 pattern papers, and use spray mist, puffy stickers and stamps. Now that's a wild challenge. I used mostly Pinkfresh Studio's Life Noted collection including pattern papers, journaling cards, puffy alpha stickers, gold chipboard stickers, their awesome acetate die cut words, and washi stickers. I also used the camera from Pinkfresh Studio's clear stamp set (my grandma loved to take photos), which was stamped, heat embossed and fussy cut.

In addition, I used Simon Says Stamp die cut hearts from their Large Holiday Shapes set, which were stamped with BoBunny's Rough It Up and heat embossed with Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder. The felt bow is by Bella Blvd. The background was misted with Tattered Angel's bubble gum using the Heidi Swapp heart stencil. To make the Pinkfresh acetate words stand out more, I added Hero Arts white pigment ink to the back and adhered them with Tim Holtz tiny attacher.  The journaling area was a Lifestyle die cut. I finished things off with machine stitching around the outside edge and used doilies.

This page is entered in:

• The July Recipe Challenge at Pinkfresh Studio

• The "Let's Go Wild" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp - as you can see the grandparents are just wild about their new grandbaby

-june

Jelly Jar

Hello and Welcome!

Thought I'd get a head start with not only Christmas cards, but gifts as well. So we are making strawberry jam. Of course, I had to jazz up the jars. So here is my first one:

I used mostly Lawn Fawn products. The pattern papers on the jar are from Lawn Fawn's Fa-la-la-la collection. The tag was die cut from Lawn Fawn's Stitched Circle Tag set, stamped with images from the Snowy Day stamp set, heat embossed with Stampendous white powder, and the trees colored with Copic markers. I finished off this project with twine and a wild woodland critter fussy cut from Lawn Fawn pattern paper.

This project is entered in:

• Lawnscaping Challenge #135 "Patterned Palooza," sponsored by Ellen Hutson

                   

• The "Try To Contain Yourself" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "Let's Go Wild" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• MarkerPop! Challenge #101 "Embossing!"

And even though it is summer, hope your day is Merry and Bright!
-june

Monochromatic Card

Hello and Welcome!

My Favorite Things is doing another Camp Create this week and I thought I'd join in. Day 1 is a monochromatic challenge and here is my entry:

I used the Sun Rays Plate Die-namic by My Favorite Things inside a chipboard frame by Simple Stories, backed with DCWV glitter paper, edged with Distress Ink with a Simon Says Stamp diecut heart (Large Holiday Shapes) coated in Ranger's yellow enamel. I also used Simon Says Stamp's Fresh Daisies die. I edged the yellow cardstock with Versamark and used Ranger's Princess Gold embossing powder. The sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's All Boy set was also embossed with the gold and colored with yellow Tombow markers. I finished off the card with yellow sequins filled with Ranger's yellow Enamel.

This card is entered in:

• The "Fabulous Florals" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• Camp Create "Monochromatic Magic" at MFT Stamps 

         

Come join in the fun at camp!
-june

Easter in August Card

Hello and Welcome!

Want to guess how long this card has been sitting on my desk waiting to be made? But hey, if you can do Christmas in July, why not Easter in August?!

 The stamp is by Northwoods and colored with Copic markers, and the pattern papers are by Doodlebug and AMM.  The sentiment is by Studio G and is heat embossed. This card is based on a sketch at Mojo Monday.

This card is entered in:

• The "Celebrate" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "Fabulous Florals" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• YNS Color Challenge #45 at Your Next Stamp

Remember, it's never to late (or early) to celebrate,
-june

A Robotic Thanks Card

Hello and Welcome!

If you follow me, you know my family is into robots. With my son being his robotics team's marketing lead, lots of thank you notes to the wonderful sponsors are needed. Hooray! I get to make lot of cards. Here is my latest one:

When my husband saw this cute robot & pup stamp by Stampendeous, he said, "If anyone should have this stamp, it's you!" and promptly bought it for me. (I really am a lucky girl.) I stamped the robot image on watercolor paper, colored it with Zig watercolor markers and added silver highlights with a uniball pen and sequins. The sentiment is by Simon Says Stamp from their All Boy stamp set and it is heat embossed with Ranger's Princess gold powder. The background paper is by BoBunny. This card is based on a sketch by Mojo Monday.

This card is entered in:

• MarkerPop! Challenge #100 "Grateful Together"

• Mojo Monday 459

Hope you enjoyed this card,
-june

Celebrating Worlds Layout

Hello and Welcome!

Going to the World Robotics Tournament was such an exciting 3 days for our family (being engineers). This was our first time, but hopefully not our last. Here are some of the highlight photos:

This page is based on a sketch at BoBunny's blog and all of the pattern papers, chipboard, letters and stamps are by BoBunny. I used BoBunny's Rough It Up Stamp and heat embossed with Ranger's Princess Gold powder in the corners and on the Simon Says Stamp stars (from SSS's Large Holiday Shapes dies).

This page is entered in:

• The July Blog Sketch Challenge at BoBunny

• The "Celebrate!" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Happy Mom's Day Layout

Hello and Welcome!

I am loving bright colors right now and doing girly pages. Here is my latest:

This page is based on a sketch from Challenge YOUrself . I used Illustrated Faith pattern papers, Fancy Pants "Atwell" post-its, gold washi tape, and Thickers.

A new "toy" I'm having fun with currently is Ranger's Enamel Accents - the look of enamel dots without the adhesive or size issues. I love this stuff. Here I used the blue and yellow to make teeny tiny dots. I also used the new-to-me Simon Says Stamp Circle Loops and Fresh Daisy dies, along with one of my favorite Cheery Lynn dies, the mini Exotic Butterfly. Here is a detail of my clusters with these fun products:

This page is entered in:

• Challenge YOUrself #31 

• Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #235 "Back to Nature"

• The "Celebrate" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "Fabulous Florals" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

Thanks for stopping by,
-june

Jingle Card

Hello and Welcome!

It is never too early to celebrate by making Christmas cards. And here is a fun one:

I started with Cheery Lynn's "Fiona's Magic Window" frame die cut from Echo Park's Party Time paper. I heat embossed My Favorite Things Santa and sentiment from their "Jingle All The Way" stamp set. I colored the Santa image with Zig watercolor markers on watercolor paper. I finished this card off with a gold punched bell and silver thread. This card is based on a sketch at My Favorite Things.

This card is entered in:

• Wednesday Sketch Challenge 291 at MFT Card Challenges

• Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 234 "Christmas In July"

• The "Celebrate" Monday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

• The "Anything Goes" Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp

-june