Congrats!

As July approaches (and I'm working on cards for the upcoming release) I have one more card to show you using the June set from the {stamps} of Life, kites2Fly. I thought it would be fun to make a shaped card inspired by the shapes of the set, using those sentiments.  I folded some card stock in half, penciled on a kite shape, then paper-pieced the various sections using Basic Grey's Kioshi designer paper.  Some narrow strips of cardstock cover the paper seams and define the intersection.  The sentiment is matted and accented with Kioshi buttons.  Every kite needs a tail...this one is black jute tied with green and ivory satin ribbon.  Inside, the sentiment is stamped on textured green card stock with a little multi-liner doodled border.

This was a fun card to make!  Just something a little different!

You are Special!

Happy Monday! I am amazed at how quickly the last week flew by! Matthew and I have been trying to rest and recover from our mission week in Costa Rica, and we were both surprised at how exhausted we have been!  I think the adrenaline kept us going, and then when it was all over the reality of it (physically and emotionally) sunk in!  What an amazing week it was!

Our mission team devoted a shutterfly site to our trip, and there are currently over 1300 photographs there!  Here's the link if you're interested in seeing some of them.  You'll see pictures of our group, the hotel, the various jobs we did on the church worksite (tiling/grouting, spackling, painting, etc., as well as bending and wiring rebar and digging trenches for it for the foundation of a medical clinic adjacent to the church) along with our day trip touring the Sarapiqui (Sara-peek-ee) river and zip-lining in the rainforest.

Between laundry and all of the other not-so-fun necessary chores last week, I didn't get much stamping done...it will make this coming week interesting since the end of the month is always a time of approaching deadlines in prepration for upcoming releases.  The next few days will be busy and I'm prayin' for some inspiration and creativity!

Today's card is for the SCS Clean and Simple challenge.  This image, from Lizzie Anne's July Mix, Simply Sweet, worked well with the colors in Jen's signature:  bashful blue, pumpkin pie, and certainly celery.  I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black, colored it with Copic markers, added a Basic Grey brad, jute-stitched button and a sheer bow.  A border punch and dotted swiss embossing give it a little textural interest.

Hope you have a great week!

Eat Dessert First!

Here's a combo card for today's OCL sketch and SCS's Free4All Friday Challenge. My friend, Dawn, is hosting today.  :)

My card uses OCL's Life's a Picnic colored with Copic markers, Basic Grey Green at Heart designer paper and matching buttons, and a pretty Zva blossom.

Summer Garden!

Today is a special day!  It's release day for The Petal Press set Summer Garden!  This set is illustrated by i {heart} papers design team coordinator Tracy Schultz.  Like Tracy's previous sets, the images and sentiments are mix-and-match, so you can really get a lot of mileage from these stamps!

Check out the creations from the Petal Press Design Team, which includes BOTH of this month's brand new Dirty Dozen girls!  :)

Amy
Cathleen - a new dirty girl!
Gretchen
Heidi
Julie
Krysten
Natalie
Tiffany - a new dirty girl!
Tracy – designer
Kate – owner of i {heart} papers

Flower Power!

The DT girls at The {Stamps}of Life decided to throw out a bi- monthly challenge to each other. 

Please feel free to play along with us!

If you are playing along with The {Stamps} of Life stamps or digital images please upload to the gallery on the site – HERE — with the keyword TSOLD13. Please link to one of our blogs so we can see your stuff!

Our challenge this week is “Flower Power!” (TSOLD13). Use flowers on your project.

I am just returning from a week in Costa Rica, so I'm rusty after not stamping for so long!  I decided to keep things ultra simple and make a single layer card.  I stamped a sentiment from thanks2You, embellished it with a flower from the same set, and added a swirly stem from swirls2build.  For a tiny bit of texture I added some Flower Soft to the flower's center and a bright, shiny satin bow.

Our players this week:
Beverly Sizemore
Joana Studer
Jeanne Streiff
Stephanie Barnard

The Wind's Song!

Sometimes cards just *come together!* That's what happened with this one! Our set of the month for The {stamps} of Life is kites2Fly, and it is PERFECT with this sheet music from October Afternoon. So fun when it works out this way!

We're on our way home today!  :)

Notes:
kites2Fly
October Afternoon Thrift Shop
Tim Holtz distress ink
EK Success border punch
SU spiral punch

OCL Sketch!

I wanted to play today's OCL sketch, but time just got away from us in our preparations for our mission to Costa Rica, so I didn't get a card made before leaving...I wanted to alter the journal I am taking with me, so I worked on that instead!  The sketch will be a good ice-breaker to return to stamping when I get back! 

Visit the OCL blog for this week's sketch and some fabulous inspiration!  Remember, you might win a prize for playing along!

LAD DT Challenge!

Today is Challenge Day for the Lizzie Anne Design Team, and this month's challenge is an inspiration challenge.  What a beautiful color palette this photo showcases!  I immediately was reminded of this designer paper...does anyone recognize it?  It has no identifying labels or text of any kind, but it sure seemed perfect for this challenge!

I made a long landscape-oriented card because I wanted it to be reminiscent of a long stretch of lawn badly in need of being mowed!  I really wanted to edge the top of the patterned paper with the MS grass punch, but our local craft stores did not have it, so I ended up hand-snipping a strip of *grass* instead!  I stamped the mower from this month's mix twice with Soft Suede and once with Groovy Guava, cutting out the layers and adhering them with glue or dimensionals.  For embellishments, I kept it simple, tying on some fiber and adding a button tied with a jute bow.  It still needs *something* but whatever that is, it isn't in my stash!  ;)  I thought maybe it was an Old Guys Rule brad, but I decided against it!  I'll keep an open mind, and when the time is right, it'll hit me!

Be sure to visit the Lizzie Anne Designs blog for links to the rest of our team's challenge creations!  

Do the Math!

Here's another quick card using the {stamps} of Life sets, basic4abc and getwell2You.  Basic Grey Green at Heart designer paper is what gives it that bright, fun look.  A few touches with a white gel pen and some bling and pearls add a few interesting details.  (If they don't match, just color 'em with some Copics!)

We are probably counting the days we have left in Costa Rica!  Keep us in your prayers!  :)

Lizzie Anne's July Mix!

It's time for a new monthly mix at Lizzie Anne Designs!  You are gonna LOVE the images in this one!  I know...I say that every month, but it's true!  :)

I just adore this swirly sunshine image and sentiment!  Everyone can use a little sunshine, don'tcha think?!  I wanted this card to be warm and happy, and with these colors, it definitely has a summer feel!  The image was stamped with Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, then given a bit of Stickles sparkle.  For the layout I used Basic Grey's Green at Heart designer paper, a BoBunny flower, Sugar Rush brad, and a glimmery bow.

All of the LAD design team are sharing new mix projects today, so be sure to check them out...just scroll down to their names on the sidebar to the right.  We'll also be back soon with our design team inspiration challenge, so stay tuned!  Until then, I hope your day is full of sunshine!  ;)

ihp Design Team Challenge

This month, the i {heart} papers design team is getting "Krafty!"  Quite a few manufacturers have come out with lines that incorporate kraft colors in their designs, and we thought it would be fun to see what we could do with them, so that's our June challenge!  We hope you'll join us!  Please tag your project ihp0610 in your SCS or PCP galleries so we can find it!  Be sure to leave a comment with your blog link if you play along too!

I used two Basic Grey 6 x 6 designer paper pads in my design.  The soft peach, floral and floral stripe are from Capella, and the kraft-colored graph paper is from Basic Manila. The sentiment and cupcakes, stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored with Copic markers, are from Our Craft Lounge's set, Big Birthday Wishes.  Everything was sponged with Tim Holtz tea-dye distress ink.  The bow is made with some of my new favorite ribbon, 3/4 inch crepe in cream ivory.  I love how soft, and almost monochromatic this card came out.  It will make a nice birthday card for a girlfriend! 

I had intended to have a little Starbucks gift card peeking out of that pocket, but didn't have time to get one in the midst of all our Costa Rica mission preparations.  Both the pocket and the circular edges of the layers under it were cut with the coluzzle.  I don't use it very often, but it's great for things like this. 

Here's a list of the rest of the players for today's challenge:

Carolyn
Cathleen
Deb
Gretchen
Kendra
Loretta
Lori
Lynn
Megan
Tracy
Kate

Tomorrow is special too, because The Petal Press design team is sneak peeking Tracy's soon-to-be released set, and debuting some new faces. Be SURE to visit Kate's and Tracy's blogs tomorrow to see the news!

I hope you're remembering to pray for our mission team!  It's our second day of work in Costa Rica!

I am hoping as I type this scheduled post way ahead of time, that I won't be too sore or sunburned!  I'm used to being inside in the AC, card-making and blogging, not out in the tropical sunshine doing construction work! ;)

Wavin' hi from Costa Rica!

Since I have limited internet access, I thought I'd check in and give a report!  We spent today working on a church building in Puerto Viejo, Sarapiqui.  Matthew dug a trench for rebar for the foundation for an adjacent medical clinic, and two of my friends and I grouted tile in one of the Sunday School rooms.  We are all so happy that we accomplished so much our first day of work!  After our construction projects we spent about an hour and a half singing songs and making crafts with some of the local children.  The language barrier is a frustration but not a complete hindrance. 

Looking forward to a sound night's sleep before we start again tomorrow!

Dare to Believe!

Today's card is one of my favorites of the ones I made with the recent special release sets from The {stamps} of Life.  I wish you could see it IRL so you could see the beautiful shimmer that it has!

For the vertical panel, I used a subtle text-printed designer paper from Basic Grey's Manilla 6 x 6 pad, stamped it (stamped off first) with an image from swirls2Build, then sponged the edges with ink and misted it lightly with gold Shimmers spray.  The labels 4 sentiment panel was stamped on card stock in the same manner, repeating the misting to achieve a more intense golden hue to draw the eye.  The flowers are from thanks2You, cut and embossed with an oval nestabilities, sponged, misted with Shimmers and studded with luminous pearls. I used the bow easy to fashion a multi-looped bow of sheer metallic gold ribbon.

The back of the card is stamped with a signature from stamped4You.  I love that these signature stamps coordinate so well with the images from other sets...such a nice finish for a hand-made card!

Always Beautiful!

Here's a card made for Couture Cardstock using a beautiful sentiment from Lizzie Anne Designs' Vintage Verses, some glistening pink Zva swirls embellished with Kaiser pearls, and an amazing Prima blossom!  The card's Canvas card stock base was lightly sponged with Sage Shadow ink to emphasize those hues in the flower.  The soft pink satin bow was tied with the Bow Easy.

Notes:
A Rose by Any Other Name Collection:  Brandenburg (CCPK54) and Blessings (CCPK08)
Monochromatics White Collection:  Canvas (CCWH35)

Aloha Summer!

It's Friday, so there's a new OCL sketch challenge!  I'm delighted to say that they used my card as the sample, so this week I'm casing myself!  ;)

Almost needed my shades when I was workin' on this one, LOL!  I love the bright colors of DeLovely, and thought it would make a beautiful Aloha summer card.  I flipped the sketch, pairing the beach sunset image from Coastal Wishes with a bright bloom from Pretty Petals for a little bit of tropical paradise!

The images were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers.  With the black of the silhouette stamp, I just had to add a bit of black card stock to make those colors really pop!  The flower has a Sparkly Fluff "pollen" center.

Visit the OCL blog to find links to some fabulous inspiration...then play along and be sure to add your link to the list!  You could win a prize!  :)

My son Matthew and I will be on our way to Costa Rica very early tomorrow morning with a mission team of 26 from our church. We are going to be working some construction projects during the day, then spending some time in the early evenings with the local children doing crafts and singing songs. We will have one free day to do some sight-seeing before we return home, which hopefully will include a view of a beautiful tropical beach like the one on my card, and maybe a zip-line tour of the rain forest canopy!

As mission trips go, this one will be luxurious! We are staying in a nice hotel, so we have a lovely (and hopefully comfortable) place to rest from a hard day's work! Please pray for us for safe travel and for God's blessing as we go, that we might BE a blessing to those we serve!

from the bottom of my heart!

On the 7th of each month new special release sets debut for members of the {stamps} of Life...the gallery opens with always amazing cards from the design team using the new sets. Early access is one of the benefits of membership, because the rest of the stamping world doesn't get to see them until the 11th!  Let me tell you, the creativity of this team always blows me away!

When my new stamps arrive each month, I like to think on 'em for a while before I get to work. I always show them to my 16 yo son, Matthew, and this month we were at lunch at PF Chang's brain-storming about what I could do with them (usually he is rolling his eyes, bored to tears, but he sweetly indulges me)!  This text-message sentiment using basic4abc was actually his idea and I absolutely adore it!  This card is one of two that I made using it.  The cursive sentiment is from thanks2You, with a little heart and xoxo from love2hug.  They all go so perfectly together!  And on back, the bottom of the card is stamped with a signature from stamped4You.  :)

This was made with scraps of designer paper left over from long-ago cards.  The pale swirlies on the background are from another new set, swirls2build.

I'll be sharing more cards made with this month's sets throughout the rest of June, so I hope you'll visit again!

Chicken Girl Designs Release

It's time for another Chicken Girl Designs digital release at i {heart} papers!  I thought this image was SO cute, and couldn't wait to pair it with October Afternoon Thrift Shop.  I am in LOVE with this paper! 

I stamped and colored with Memento ink and Copic markers (my favorite combination lately!), inked the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink to give it a warm glow, and added a little Flower Soft to the centers of the flowers.  Couldn't resist the pop of a button-tied red twill bow!

Visit the store blog to find links to the Chicken Girl Design Team...they will have some great eye candy for you today!

Some news!

I'm excited to announce that I will be guest designing for Flower Soft for the months of September and October!  Today I'm sharing a very simple but also elegant and feminine card from my submissions using lilac Flower Soft to adorn an image from my friend Asela's set, Botanical Dreams.  The delicate, almost lacy look of this product is why it so appeals to me...so soft and natural!  I am very excited to be invited to work with it (both the original and the new Ultra Fine) and look forward to the Fall with eager anticipation!  NOT that I'm trying to wish away Summer!  I am sure it is going to FLY by, we are so busy!

Notes:
SU scalloped edge punch
lavender mesh ribbon
Nestabilities Labels 10 die
Jenni Bowlin antique pearl stick pin

Snip-Snip-Snip!

That's the design team challenge for the crew from The {Stamps} of Life!  It was really easy with this glittery paper from Best Creations and the fun sentiment and images from this month's featured set, kites2Fly.  I stamped the clouds in black, the sentiments in soft blue, then cut them out and softly sponged the edges.

I love how bright and happy this card is!  Thought it would make a fun little boy congrats card for a great report card at the end of the school year!  It might even work for a mom-to-be expecting the arrival of a baby boy!

We'd love for you to join us in the challenge! If you are playing along with The {Stamps} of Life stamps or digital images please upload to the gallery on the site —HERE— with the keyword TSOLD12. Please link to one of our blogs so we can see your stuff!

Here are the rest of the players:

• Jeanne
• Joana
• Laura
• Vicki

LAD Sketch

Here is a quick, easy card with this week's Lizzie Anne Designs sketch!  Although the sketch is square, I made mine standard A2 because I already had a card base cut and folded, which made this faster than ever!

This sweet image and sentiment, cut and embossed with a nestabilities square, are from last month's mix, Dream Big!  I colored them with Copic markers and added a couple of buttons tied with cotton crochet thread.

Let Your Light Shine!

It is a soggy day in Florida! Hot and muggy and not-so-hot for for golfing!  The golfers in our FIUMC Annual Youth Golf Benefit hopefully don't mind too much...they're playing, rain or shine, so long as the thunder stays away!

I was beginning to wonder if it would let up long enough to snap a picture of today's card!  Finally I was able to sneak out without getting my card wet!

Gotta love how this image (from Life is Good) and the glittery Citronella Swirls designer paper go together!  I added a wavy border and some ruched ribbon with a little rope/anchor accent.  The light is a bit of Martha Stewart chunky glitter, which is difficult to see in the photo.

Stay dry!  Hope the rest of your weekend is great!

Unity FWF!

I'm so excited to be part of today's Unity FWF!  My young friend Keri called last weekend to ask if I would take her stamping at our LSS.  My new Unity store kit had just arrived from Kate at i {heart} papers so she didn't have to twist my arm!  When I saw this gorgeous designer paper (Scrap Within Reach, The Cottage Collection) I couldn't work on anything else until I had these cute images stamped and Copic colored!  I love these calm, relaxing hues, which go along perfectly with this sentiment!  So often things will work out better when we just have a little faith and quit trying SO hard!  It also helps to have a little encouragement from our friends!  ;)

I had almost finished my card and was wandering around the store looking for *just the thing it needed* not knowing exactly what that was.  I showed it to Janet and a little crowd of customers gathered round to see too.  One of them squealed and ran to her stash to bring out that adorable blingy dragonfly!  What a perfect match!  Gotta love this fabulous hobby that unites us all in our love of creativity through stamping and scrapping!  






I'm also really thrilled to have my blog be the home of the Unity FWF blinkie this week!  I'll be choosing a winner on Saturday morning, so be sure to leave your comment here for a chance to win!  Please, make it a sincere one!  :)

eta:  The winner has been drawn!  Congratulations to Laurel Seabrook! 

I hope that you have seen something you like so that you'll visit again soon!  Have a great weekend!

OCL Sketch!

There's a fun sketch on the OCL blog today! I decided to get out Life's a Picnic and make a traditional summer picnic card.  The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with Copic markers, and cut/embossed with a rectangular nestabilities die.  I sponged in some subtle soft sky clouds with a scalloped circle mask.  Simple and fun!  Come play along!

LAD Special!

Here's a super simple, nearly single layer Lizzie Anne card...and a brand new singles special: buy both of our June singles -- "Grand ol' Flag" and "Yankee Doodle," and we'll email you a code to download our Stars and Stripes digital paper pack for free!  Offer is good through Saturday, June 5th. More on the LAD blog!

New Release from TSOL

It's the first of the month, so a brand new gallery of cards is open, made with a cute new release from The {stamps} of Life called kites2Fly!  This is such a fun, light-hearted, happy set!


My card for today uses the outline stamp and paper piecing with Cosmo Cricket designer paper.  Can't help but sing the song from Mary Poppins when I see this sentiment!  ;)

The gallery is filled with the amazing creations of my ever-so-talented teammates.  Wait til you see it!  You will be SO inspired!  We are sad to say goodbye this month to guest designer Valerie Stangle...Val, come back!  ;)  We will miss you!